Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Resting against southpaw
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Smith is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Guardians.
After returning from the injured list Monday, the left-handed-hitting Smith was included in the lineup for the first two games of the series while the Guardians sent right-handed starters to the hill. With southpaw Parker Messick toeing the rubber for Cleveland in the finale, Smith will give way to the right-handed-hitting Tyler Locklear at first base. The two players could end up forming a loose platoon at the position over the final few weeks of the season.
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Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Hitless in return
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Smith started at first base and went 0-for-2 before being lifted for a pinch hitter in Monday's 3-1 loss to Cleveland.
Smith was activated off the injured list Monday and was in the lineup against a right-hander. He was eventually pinch hit for against a lefty reliever by the right-handed batting Tyler Locklear, who had served as the primary first baseman since the Diamondbacks traded Josh Naylor. The two could operate as a platoon at the cold corner while Arizona is nominally a competitor for the postseason. At some point, the organization may want to see if the 24-year-old Locklear is a long-term solution.
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Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Reinstated from IL, starting Monday
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The Diamondbacks reinstated Smith (oblique) from the 10-day injured list, and he is starting at first base and batting fifth against the Guardians on Monday.
Smith has spent the last six weeks recovering from a right oblique strain that landed him on the 10-day IL in early July. He ended his rehab assignment with Triple-A Reno on a strong note, going 2-for-3 with two walks, two doubles and two runs scored in Saturday's contest. Smith will get the start at first base over Tyler Locklear on Monday, and the former could also work in rotation with Adrian Del Castillo at DH.
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Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Cleared for live batting practice
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Smith (oblique) will take live batting practice Tuesday, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.
Smith has been shelved since July 6 due to a right oblique strain but is set to take a notable step forward Tuesday. If he emerges from Tuesday's baseball activities without suffering any type of setback, the team could get him live at-bats during a minor-league game Thursday, per Weiner.
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Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Goes yard twice
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Smith went 2-for-4 with two homers, four RBI and a walk in Monday's 10-0 victory over the White Sox.
Smith extended Arizona's lead to 5-0 with a three-run long ball off Chicago starter Shane Smith in the second inning. The 29-year-old wasn't finished, as he returned to launch a 416-foot solo shot in the fourth off reliever Dan Altavilla to collect his second career multi-homer game. This pair of blasts is a welcome sight for Smith since he entered the contest with a .158/.340/.316 slash line across 50 plate appearances in June.
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Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Drives in three runs
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Smith went 1-for-2 with two walks, a two-run home run and a sacrifice fly in Thursday's 9-5 win over the Blue Jays.
Smith clobbered his sixth home run of the season in the fifth inning off Kevin Gausman before extending the Diamondbacks' lead in in the sixth on a sac fly. Smith's .274 batting average this year would be a career best, but he has struggled at the plate in June with a .194/.381/.387 slash line, one steal, two home runs, five RBI and a 31.0 percent strikeout rate in 42 plate appearances this month.
Smith is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Blue Jays.
Arizona is facing a left-handed starting pitcher (Eric Lauer) for the first time since June 6, so Smith will retreat to the bench along with fellow left-handed-hitting regular Alek Thomas. Randal Grichuk will step in at designated hitter in place of Smith, who hit .200 with one home run and two RBI while starting each of the last nine games.
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Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Hitting above xBA
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Smith went 1-for-3 with an RBI in Tuesday's 5-4 loss to Toronto.
Smith put Arizona on the board with a two-out, run-scoring single in the fourth inning. He's been largely unproductive since the middle of April, as the lefty hitter is batting .210 (25-for-119) with just nine RBI over the last 44 contests dating back to April 23. By the grace of a .406 BABIP, Smith has managed to bat .271 for the season, far outpacing a .223 expected batting average.
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Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Delivers two runs in loss
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Smith started at first base and went 1-for-3 with a walk, a triple, two RBI and a run scored in Saturday's 11-7 loss to Washington.
Smith plated two runs with a triple as part of Arizona's five-run sixth inning that made a potential blowout somewhat interesting. It was the second straight game with multiple RBI for Smith, who has knocked in five over the last five contests. He has just 16 RBI through 53 games after driving in 36 over 60 games a season ago.
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Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Delivers run in loss
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Smith went 2-for-3 with an RBI in Sunday's 4-3 loss to the Cardinals.
Smith gave Arizona a 3-2 lead in the sixth inning when he singled in a run. The RBI was his third over the last 27 games, a stretch during which Smith has just three extra-base hits, batted .227 (17-for-75) and struck out at a 30.7 percent clip. As the strongside of a platoon at DH, he has a respectable .301 batting average and an .892 OPS, but there's very little heft to it. Smith, who spent a good portion of the season batting third, has just 12 RBI and can thank an outrageous BABIP (.439) for what Statcast estimates to be a .229 expected batting average.
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Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Racks up three hits in win
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Smith went 3-for-4 with an RBI double in Saturday's 3-0 win over the Dodgers.
Smith was the only player to have a multi-hit effort in this contest. He's 4-for-7 over his last two games, but prior to that, he went 0-for-17 across the previous eight contests. The 29-year-old is up to a .302/.442/.531 slash line, four home runs, 10 RBI, 19 runs scored, 10 doubles and a stolen base over 120 plate appearances. Smith is in a strong-side platoon role, primarily as a designated hitter with a little time at first base this year.
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Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Out against left-hander
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Smith is not in the lineup for Friday's game in Philadelphia.
It's southpaw Jesus Luzardo on the hill for the Phillies, so the left-handed-hitting Smith will begin the festivities on the bench. Randal Grichuk is in the designated hitter spot and batting third in the series opener.
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Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Starts against southpaw
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Smith started at first base and went 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored in Tuesday's 8-3 loss to the Mets.
The lefty-hitting Smith got a rare start against a left-hander, stepping in for Josh Naylor (another lefty), who received his first day off of the season. Smith was 1-for-2 against starter David Peterson, and then walked and singled against right-handed relievers. A .226 career hitter against southpaws, Smith has just seven plate appearances against them this season, going 1-for-5 with two walks.
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Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Getting breather against LHP
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Smith isn't in the lineup for Friday's game against Atlanta, Jody Jackson of Bally Sports Arizona reports.
The lefty-hitting Smith will stay put in the D-backs' dugout while left-hander Chris Sale toes the slab for Atlanta. Randal Grichuk will enter the lineup as Arizona's DH and bat third.
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Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Belts solo homer
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Smith went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 6-2 win over Miami.
Smith extended Arizona's lead to two runs in the sixth inning, when he took Max Meyer deep to center field for a 429-foot solo home run. It was Smith's second homer of the year, and he's begun the season slashing .386/.460/.659 with nine runs and five RBI in 50 plate appearances while filling the strong side of a platoon at designated hitter.
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Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Joins the homer party
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Smith started at first base and went 3-for-5 with a double, a two-run home run and an additional run scored in Wednesday's 9-0 win over the Orioles.
Smith was one of four members of the Diamondbacks that went deep in the win. His two-run shot in the fifth inning, his first homer of the season, was the first of back-to-back homers. The Diamondbacks are finally seeing a string of right-handed starters, which has given Smith starts in four consecutive games. During that stretch, the lefty hitter is 7-for-13 with three extra-base hits, three RBI and four runs scored.
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Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Out against lefty Saturday
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Smith isn't in the lineup for Saturday's matchup against the Nationals.
Smith will take a seat with lefty Mitchell Parker starting on the mound for Washington. That's been a trend for Smith this season, as he's yet to be in the lineup against an opposing southpaw starter. Randal Grichuk will start at DH in Smith's stead Saturday.
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Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Sitting out versus left-hander
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Smith is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Yankees.
Left-hander Carlos Rodon is taking the hill for the Yankees, so the left-handed--hitting Smith will begin the contest on the bench. Randal Grichuk will start at designated hitter and bat cleanup for the Diamondbacks on Wednesday.
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Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Sitting versus LHP
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Smith isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game versus the Cubs.
Left-hander Shota Imanaga will toe the slab to begin Saturday's contest, so Smith and his career .600 OPS against lefties will remain on the bench. Randal Grichuk will serve as Arizona's designated hitter instead and bat fourth.
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Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Makes first start
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Smith started at designated hitter and batted fifth in Friday's 8-1 win over the Cubs, going 3-for-5 with two doubles, one RBI and two runs scored.
Smith was on the bench for Thursday's season opener against a lefty but made his first start Friday with a righty on the mound. The lefty hitter is coming off an encouraging season in which he achieved career highs in slugging, hard-hit and barrel rates. Smith will be given the chance to hold down the strong side of a platoon at DH, while Randal Grichuk should be in the lineup against lefties.
