Diamondbacks counting on youngsters against Dodgers

When the Arizona Diamondbacks dealt All-Star third baseman Eugenio Suarez back to Seattle at the trade deadline, most baseball folks figured the team would call up top prospect Jordan Lawlar.

Instead, Blaze Alexander got the first shot at Suarez's spot.

Friday night's 3-0 victory against the host Los Angeles Dodgers in the opener of a three-game weekend series between the National League West rivals showed why the D-backs might have made the right call.

Alexander hit a two-run homer, a 400-foot blast into the Dodgers' bullpen in left field off two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell. Lawlar went 0 for 4 with three strikeouts in his first game since being recalled from Triple-A Reno.

"Blaze has anchored third base for us since Geno got traded. He's gone down there and played unbelievable defense," D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said.

"He has controlled the zone, he's having quality at-bats. He's going to continue to play. And what I explained to Blaze is, ‘We're going to move you around the field a little bit. We're going to try to put you in the outfield as well.'"

Lawlar, the No. 6 overall pick in the 2021 draft, made his MLB debut in September 2023, going 4 for 31. He was called up for eight games this May and went hitless in 19 at-bats.

Lovullo said Lawlar earned the promotion by batting .313 with 11 homers and 50 RBIs at Reno despite missing seven weeks with a hamstring strain.

"Jordan Lawlar is here, and we're excited about that," Lovullo said. "He's been working hard, he's healthy, and that was the most important thing, getting back on the field. ...

"It wasn't like we just said, ‘What name?' and it was Lawlar because he's supposed to be here. We want him to be here for the right reasons. He's here to compete, he's doing well. He's going to help us win baseball games."

Lawlar said his focus is on remaining healthy.

"Just doing everything you can on and off the field, taking care of the body," he said. "And then just learning. This game is a great teacher if you're willing to put the time in and listen to it."

Lawlar started at third with Alexander moving over to second base Friday, with Ketel Marte serving as the D-backs' designated hitter.

"We're going to simplify as best we can, focus on the left side of the diamond, eliminate second base for now," Lovullo said. "And hopefully that'll help him and his prep work, and allow him to go out there and be the best version of himself defensively. And then the at-bats are the at-bats. He just has to get them, and he's going to."

Zac Gallen and three relievers limited the Dodgers to three hits in the series opener.

"We just obviously couldn't figure anything out," said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, whose team had a four-game winning streak snapped. "This was the first one in awhile ... that we've had a lackluster performance."

On Saturday, the D-backs are scheduled to start lefty Eduardo Rodriguez (5-8, 5.67 ERA) against Dodgers right-hander Tyler Glasnow (1-2, 3.36).

Rodriguez suffered a 7-5 loss Monday at Milwaukee as he surrendered five runs in 2 1/3 innings. He's 1-4 with a 7.43 ERA in six previous starts against the Dodgers. Rodriguez didn't get a decision in a 14-11 loss to visiting Los Angeles on May 9 despite giving up eight runs (six earned) in 2 2/3 innings.

Glasnow lost 5-1 last Saturday at San Diego, giving up three runs on two hits and four walks in four innings. He's 0-3 with a 10.61 ERA in three career appearances against the D-backs (two starts).

-Field Level Media