Diamondbacks' Blaze Alexander: On bench for Game 162
Rotowire
Alexander (wrist) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Padres.
Alexander departed Saturday's game in the second inning after being struck in the wrist by a pitch. Assuming he doesn't enter off the bench, he'll end the 2025 season with a .230/.323/.383 slash line, seven home runs, 28 RBI, 31 runs scored and four stolen bases across 266 plate appearances. Jordan Lawlar will step in at third base Sunday.
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Diamondbacks' Blaze Alexander: Exits early Saturday
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Alexander (wrist) exited Saturday's game against the Padres in the bottom of the second inning, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.
Alexander was struck in the wrist by a 88 mph changeup from Padres starter Michael King in the top of the first, and he was ultimately forced to leave the game in the following frame. Tim Tawa replaced him in the lineup and took over at first base while Ildemaro Vargas shifted to third base versus San Diego.
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Diamondbacks' Blaze Alexander: Back in lineup Monday
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Alexander (elbow) is starting at third base and batting fifth against the Giants on Monday, Jack Sommers of SI.com reports.
Alexander was struck on his left elbow by a pitch during the Diamondbacks' 6-4 win over the Rangers on Sunday. He was diagnosed with an elbow contusion, and the injury isn't severe enough to be held out of the starting lineup for Monday's series opener. Alexander has gone 7-for-27 (.259) with four RBI over his last seven games.
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Diamondbacks' Blaze Alexander: Another outfield start
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Alexander started in center field and went 2-for-4 with an RBI and was caught stealing in Tuesday's 5-3 win over Texas.
Alexander started a second straight game in center field, both coming against left-handers. With the news that Lourdes Gurriel is done for the season with a torn ACL, there's a greater need for Alexander's right-handed bat in the outfield. He has experience in center field and replaced Gurriel in left field Monday.
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Diamondbacks' Blaze Alexander: Gets start in center field
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Alexander started in center field and went 1-for-4 with a triple, an RBI and a run scored in Monday's 7-5 extra-inning loss to the Rangers.
Arizona manager Torey Lovullo discussed Alexander's shifting role last week, including time in the outfield. The outfield skews lefty, particularly in center field, and Alexander gives the manager a right-handed option against southpaws, as was the case Monday against Texas lefty Patrick Corbin. Alexander then showed off his versatility by playing left field when Lourdes Gurriel (knee) was removed, and he eventually also played third base by the end of the game. He's been on a roll over the last week, going 7-for-21 with five extra-base hits, five RBI, one steal and seven runs scored over the last six contests.
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Diamondbacks' Blaze Alexander: Back at third base Saturday
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Alexander started at third base and went 2-for-4 with a double, a stolen base and two runs scored in Saturday's 6-1 win over the Dodgers.
Alexander is swinging a hot bat right now, going 6-for-14 with two doubles, two home runs, four RBI and six runs scored over a four-game hit streak. A day after manager Torey Lovullo discussed Alexander's role -- shifting from primary third baseman to a utility role -- he was back at the hot corner against a right-hander. Lovullo talked to Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports on Friday about having Jordan Lawlar playing the left side of the infield but added that would be against lefties and certain righties. As both Alexander and Lawlar are right-handed batters, this won't be a traditional platoon situation.
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Diamondbacks' Blaze Alexander: Role changing
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Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said Friday that Alexander's role will shift from primary starter at third base to playing various spots around the field after top prospect Jordan Lawlar was called up to the majors, Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports reports.
Alexander had been the primary starter at third base since the Eugenio Suarez trade but slid over to second base Friday while Lawlar manned the hot corner. Lovullo said Lawlar would be limited to the left side of the infield -- shortstop or third base -- and would start against all lefties, while the manager does a mix-and-match against righties. Lovullo also said the righty-hitting Alexander could get starts in center field, where the Diamondbacks are lefty heavy.
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Diamondbacks' Blaze Alexander: Pops homer in win
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Alexander went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run and a walk in Friday's 3-0 win over the Dodgers.
Aelxander is up to seven homers this season, and three of them have come over his last seven games. The infielder has gone 7-for-25 (.280) with four walks and nine strikeouts in that span. He's up to a .234/.331/.441 slash line with 19 RBI, 21 runs scored and two stolen bases over 168 plate appearances. Alexander has gotten most of his recent playing time at third base, though he covered second base while Ketel Marte served as designated hitter in Friday's contest.
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Diamondbacks' Blaze Alexander: Launches sixth homer Wednesday
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Alexander went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Wednesday's 3-2 win over Milwaukee.
Alexander smashed his sixth homer of the campaign, with each blast having come in the month of August. With Eugenio Suarez now in Seattle, Alexander is set to continue operating as Arizona's primary third baseman for the remainder of the year. The 26-year-old infielder is batting just .236 but has four doubles, 13 RBI and 12 runs scored over his last 89 at-bats.
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Diamondbacks' Blaze Alexander: Losing work vs. RHPs
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Alexander is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Tigers.
The right-handed-hitting Alexander started in seven consecutive games from July 13 through last Wednesday, but he'll likely be relegated to a short-side platoon role moving forward. He'll hit the bench Monday for the third time in the last four games, with his lone start during that stretch coming Saturday against Pirates southpaw Andrew Heaney.
Alexander will start at second base and bat eighth in Monday's game against the Astros.
Though Ketel Marte will make his first start of the second half following a brief stint on the restricted list coming out of the All-Star break, he'll be used at designated hitter rather than at his usual spot at the keystone. As a result, Alexander will pick up his fifth consecutive start, after he had gone 5-for-14 with two doubles, four runs and three RBI. Until the Diamondbacks get Pavin Smith (oblique) back from the injured list, the team could have a regular spot in the lineup available for either Adrian Del Castillo or Alexander, though the latter's standing as a right-handed hitter may work against him from a playing-time standpoint.
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Diamondbacks' Blaze Alexander: Starts first game back
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Alexander started at second base and went 1-for-4 with a double and an RBI in Friday's 7-3 win over the Cardinals.
Alexander started the first game back from the All-Star break, while primary second baseman Ketel Marte was placed on the restricted list to deal with a burglary at his home in Phoenix. It's unclear how much time Marte will require, and manager Torey Lovullo referred to the absence as "a day-to-day situation," per Steve Gilbert of MLB.com. Alexander has hit safely in three consecutive games, going 4-for-12 with three doubles and two RBI.
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Diamondbacks' Blaze Alexander: Fills in at second base
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Alexander started at second base and went 1-for-4 in Monday's 6-3 win over San Diego.
Alexander was a late addition to the starting lineup after Ketel Marte (groin) was scratched. Marte is hoping to play Tuesday, but Alexander remains on call if needed.
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Diamondbacks' Blaze Alexander: Activated and optioned
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The Diamondbacks activated Alexander (oblique/hip) from the 10-day injured list Sunday and optioned him to Triple-A Reno.
Alexander initially went on the IL to begin the season due to an oblique strain and more recently suffered a hip injury on his rehab assignment. He's recovered from both injuries now but will remain at Reno rather than join the major-league club.
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Diamondbacks' Blaze Alexander: Kicks off rehab assignment
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Alexander (oblique) began a rehab assignment Tuesday with Triple-A Reno, going 0-for-1 with two hit-by-pitches and a run scored.
Alexander played four innings at shortstop before checking out of the contest. The 25-year-old missed most of the Cactus League while recovering from a right oblique strain and will likely remain on assignment at Triple-A through the weekend before the Diamondbacks consider bringing him back from the injured list. Tim Tawa has recently taken over as Arizona's primary second baseman since Ketel Marte (hamstring) landed on the IL, but Alexander could emerge as a candidate to fill in at the keystone once he completes his rehab assignment and if Tawa is struggling to produce.
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Diamondbacks' Blaze Alexander: Placed on 10-day injured list
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The Diamondbacks placed Alexander on the 10-day injured list Thursday with a right oblique strain, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.
Alexander suffered the injury in late February and only just resumed baseball activities last week. He isn't a given to join the major-league roster once he's physically ready to do so.
Alexander (oblique) has started baseball activities, Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports reports.
The activities include throwing and hitting off a tee. Alexander has been held out of Cactus League action since suffering a right oblique strain at the end of February.
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Diamondbacks' Blaze Alexander: Out with oblique strain
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Manager Torey Lovullo said Friday that Alexander suffered a Grade 1 right oblique strain and will be unavailable for Opening Day, Jack Sommers of SI.com reports.
It's unclear when exactly Alexander sustained the injury, but his last appearance in a Cactus League game came Monday versus the Guardians. The 25-year-old was fighting to earn a roster spot as a utility infielder but now appears set to begin the campaign on the injured list. Once healthy he could be headed to Triple-A Reno.
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Diamondbacks' Blaze Alexander: Makes spring debut
Rotowire
Alexander started at second base and went 0-for-1 with a walk and a run scored in Saturday's spring game against the Rockies.
Alexander made his Cactus League debut and is expected to play multiple infield positions in a quest to claim a utility role on the Opening Day roster. It's the same role Kevin Newman held last season, but he signed with the Angels in the offseason. The questions surrounding Alexander in his first exposure to MLB in 2024 were his defense and the downturn at the plate after a strong April. His primary competition for a roster spot includes Garrett Hampson and Ildemaro Vargas.
The Diamondbacks recalled Alexander from Triple-A Reno on Wednesday.
Alexander will provide some infield depth while Ketel Marte (ankle) is banged up. The rookie slashed .297/.374/.446 versus left-handed pitching during his previous stint in the majors this season, so he's likely to see the majority of his playing time against southpaws. Alexander will crack the lineup Wednesday against a right-hander in Rockies rookie Tanner Gordon, filling in for Marte at second base and batting eighth.
