ST. LOUIS — The Diamondbacks are adding outfielder Max Kepler to the roster ahead of their series finale on Thursday, June 25, against the St. Louis Cardinals, sources said, adding the veteran left-handed bat to their roster now that his suspension is complete.
To make room, the Diamondbacks are optioning infielder/outfielder Tim Tawa to Triple-A Reno.
The club also is sending down left-hander Mitch Bratt, who threw three innings and gave up one run on Wednesday night, June 24, in his major league debut, to add a fresh arm for the bullpen. Right-hander Juan Burgos is expected to be recalled.
Kepler signed a league-minimum deal with the Diamondbacks on June 7. He was suspended for 80 games in January after testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug.
Kepler gives the Diamondbacks another option against right-handed pitching.
He played 10 games in the minors prior to his activation, going 10 for 30 with a double, two homers, seven walks and six strikeouts. He split time between the complex league, High-A Hillsboro and Reno.
Bratt was given a spot start on June 24 in part because right-hander Brandon Pfaadt’s pitching schedule in Reno did not line up well with rotation vacancies in the majors.
Pfaadt is expected to join the team and start on June 26 in Tampa. He and right-hander Jose Cabrera are the rotation fill-ins for right-handers Ryne Nelson and Michael Soroka, both of whom landed on the injured list last weekend.
Diamondbacks at Cardinals, 4:45 p.m., Cox, Ch. 34
Diamondbacks RHP Zac Gallen (3-6, 6.10) vs. Cardinals RHP Michael McGreevy (3-6, 3.35).
At Busch Stadium: Gallen was hammered by the Twins over the weekend, giving up nine runs in four-plus innings. Much of the damage was on softly hit balls that found holes. His average exit velocity allowed was 82.9 mph; that is the same as Padres RHP Mason Miller’s average for the season, which is the second-best mark in the majors. … Still, Gallen continues to have trouble eliciting whiffs when he needs them. He got only six swings and misses on 34 swings (18 percent) against the Twins. His season average of 19.7 percent is the eighth-lowest whiff rate in the majors. … McGreevy elicits even less whiff than Gallen, but he seems to make it work anyway. That said, he hasn’t been overly sharp over his past six starts (5.34 ERA) and most recently allowed five runs in five innings in a loss to the Royals. … McGreevy throws seven different pitch types ranging in velocity from 77.7 mph (curveball) to 91.5 mph (four-seam fastball). His best swing-and-miss offering is his changeup.
Coming up
Friday, June 26: At Tampa, 4:10 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Brandon Pfaadt (0-1, 5.92) vs. Rays RHP Nick Martinez (6-2, 2.73).
Saturday, June 27: At Tampa, 3:10 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Jose Cabrera (0-0, 0.00) vs. Rays RHP Drew Rasmussen (6-4, 2.62).
Sunday, June 28: At Tampa, 10:40 a.m., Diamondbacks RHP Merrill Kelly (5-7, 5.71) vs. Rays LHP Shane McClanahan (6-5, 3.30).
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Diamondbacks at Cardinals live updates. Max Kepler recalled
About the Author
