• Zack Greinke after 2-0 win over Giants

    Zack Greinke after 2-0 win over Giants

  • Torey Lovullo on Greinke's dominant start vs. Giants

    Torey Lovullo on Greinke’s dominant start vs. Giants

  • Robbie Ray after 10-strikeout game vs. Giants

    Robbie Ray after 10-strikeout game vs. Giants

  • Archie Bradley on baseball and beards

    Archie Bradley on baseball and beards

  • Torey Lovullo on Pollock's two-run double, Ray's outing

    Torey Lovullo on Pollock’s two-run double, Ray’s outing

  • Shot Clock: D-Backs' Archie Bradley talks football

    Shot Clock: D-Backs’ Archie Bradley talks football

  • Zack Godley on his outing against the Rockies

    Zack Godley on his outing against the Rockies

  • Torey Lovullo on big win over Rockies

    Torey Lovullo on big win over Rockies

  • Paul Goldschmidt downplays his 1,000th career hit

    Paul Goldschmidt downplays his 1,000th career hit

  • Lovullo discusses his team's win over the Rockies

    Lovullo discusses his team’s win over the Rockies

  • D-Backs' A.J. Pollock on his three-hit night

    D-Backs’ A.J. Pollock on his three-hit night

  • Patrick Corbin on his outing against the Rockies

    Patrick Corbin on his outing against the Rockies

  • Shot Clock: D-Backs stay ahead of Rockies?

    Shot Clock: D-Backs stay ahead of Rockies?

  • Torey Lovullo on loss to Rockies

    Torey Lovullo on loss to Rockies

  • J.D. Martinez following D-Backs' loss to Rockies

    J.D. Martinez following D-Backs’ loss to Rockies

  • Taijuan Walker on his outing against the Rockies

    Taijuan Walker on his outing against the Rockies

  • Diamondbacks' rally falls short against Rockies

    Diamondbacks’ rally falls short against Rockies

  • Robbie Ray on his outing vs. Padres

    Robbie Ray on his outing vs. Padres

  • Manager Torey Lovullo on D-Backs' win, Bradley's save

    Manager Torey Lovullo on D-Backs’ win, Bradley’s save

  • Diamondbacks react to 'tough' loss to Padres

    Diamondbacks react to ‘tough’ loss to Padres

  • Coyotes take batting practice at Chase Field

    Coyotes take batting practice at Chase Field

  • Torey Lovullo on the end of the D-Backs' win streak

    Torey Lovullo on the end of the D-Backs’ win streak

  • Paul Goldschmidt says his elbow is structurally sound

    Paul Goldschmidt says his elbow is structurally sound

  • Zack Greinke after D-Backs' win over Dodgers

    Zack Greinke after D-Backs’ win over Dodgers

  • Torey Lovullo on D-Backs' record-tying 12th consecutive win

    Torey Lovullo on D-Backs’ record-tying 12th consecutive win

  • Shot Clock: JD rocks LA; Cards chase Seattle

    Shot Clock: JD rocks LA; Cards chase Seattle

  • J.D. Martinez on his four-homer night vs. Dodgers

    J.D. Martinez on his four-homer night vs. Dodgers

  • Paul Goldschmidt talks about his sore right elbow

    Paul Goldschmidt talks about his sore right elbow

  • Torey Lovullo on J.D. Martinez's four-homer performance

    Torey Lovullo on J.D. Martinez’s four-homer performance

  • Robbie Ray after striking out career-high 14 vs. Dodgers

    Robbie Ray after striking out career-high 14 vs. Dodgers

  • Torey Lovullo on D-Backs' 10th consecutive win

    Torey Lovullo on D-Backs’ 10th consecutive win

  • Zack Godley on wild yet effective outing vs. Rockies

    Zack Godley on wild yet effective outing vs. Rockies

As Jake Lamb’s struggles against left-handed pitching continue, the Diamondbacks seem to be gradually shifting away from him at third base when an opponent starts a lefty on the mound, a trend that could continue into October.

The Diamondbacks have faced 10 left-handed starters since Aug. 22. Lamb has been in the lineup for only four of them, with the right-handed hitting Adam Rosales getting the other six starts at third base.

“It might be more centered around Adam Rosales and his ability to hit left-handed pitching that I’m thinking about more than what Jake can or can’t do,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. “We’re going to need a complete roster down the stretch. I want to make sure the guys who are going to be counted on down the stretch are getting those types of at-bats and Adam fits right in against left-handed pitching.”

Rosales is hitting a modest .244 off lefties this year, including a .239 average in 46 at-bats since joining the Diamondbacks at the trade deadline.

But that’s a sizeable upgrade from Lamb, who is hitting just .146 against lefties. That’s the second-worst average for a lefty against same-handed pitchers in the majors, trailing only the Minnesota Twins’ Max Kepler (.135).

Lovullo said he hasn’t identified trends in terms of the type of lefties Lamb struggles most against and instead decides his lineup based in part on conversations with hitting coach Dave Magadan.

If the Diamondbacks advance past the wild card game, they’ll likely face the Los Angeles Dodgers, who could have three lefties in their starting rotation in Clayton Kershaw, Rich Hill and Alex Wood. How would Lovullo handle Lamb in a series where potentially four of five games could be against lefties?

“I haven’t got that far,” he said. “I want to put us in the best position to win every game we possibly can. That’s been my mind-set the whole year. I’ll follow the criteria if we get that far.”

Sunday’s game

When: 1:05 p.m.

Where: AT&T Park, San Francisco.

Pitchers: Diamondbacks RHP Taijuan Walker (9-7, 3.32) vs. Giants RHP Chris Stratton (2-3, 4.07).

TV/Radio: FSAZ/KTAR-AM (620), KHOV-FM (105.1).

Walker has given up just four runs in his past 28 2/3 innings (1.26 ERA) spanning his past five starts. … He’s also been a contributor at the plate in recent games. He has a hit in three straight games and six of his past nine. … In four starts against the Giants this year, he has a 3.86 ERA. OF Jarrett Parker is 4 for 14 (.286) with one double, one triple and one home run off Walker. … Stratton had a strong August, posting a 1.52 ERA in 23 2/3 innings in four starts. … He did not pitch well against the Rockies on Sept. 4, allowing three runs in four innings, then logged just 1/3 of an inning in his last start before leaving because of a lengthy rain/lightning delay. … He faced the Diamondbacks on Aug. 27, giving up two runs in six innings.

 

Coming up

Monday: At San Diego, 7:10 p.m., Diamondbacks LHP Patrick Corbin (14-12, 4.06) vs. Padres RHP Luis Perdomo (7-10, 4.61).

Tuesday: At San Diego, 7:10 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Zack Godley (8-7, 3.00) vs. Padres LHP Travis Wood (1-3, 6.91).

Wednesday: At San Diego, 6:10 p.m., Diamondbacks LHP Robbie Ray (14-5, 2.74) vs. Padres RHP Dinelson Lamet (7-7, 4.15).

 

 

Autoplay

Show Thumbnails

Show Captions