Before Tyler Skaggs takes the mound in a day exhibition against the Marlins as the first of a doubleheader, many questions were surrounding the plethora of roster moves made by the Diamondbacks today. To make room for Skaggs, relief pitcher Sam Demel was optioned back to AAA Reno. Also, outfielder A.J. Pollock was added as the 26th man, meaning he will have to go back to Reno at the end of the doubleheader.
Pollock was added simply as a precaution to the hamstring injury that right fielder Justin Upton sustained yesterday. But according to both Manager Kirk Gibson and Upton himself, he seems to be doing okay and will be available off the bench. Upton had an MRI and stated that all signs are clear and there was "nothing out of the ordinary".
"I feel a lot better, a lot better than last night," Upton said. "I got some treatment last night, we were working on some things and I feel better."
Still, Upton will be benched for the first game and likely the second one as well, according to Gibson. "I wouldn't count on it," Gibby said of Upton playing in the nightcap.
Gibson also talked about his rookie pitcher, Tyler Skaggs and what he is expecting out of him today and what he has seen so far. "It's his first major league start," Gibson said of Skaggs. "Anybody who has ever had a first major league start, it's a very exciting event. He'll have a lot to deal with. We're putting a lot on him. Every game we have is very critical. So we put a lot on him, but he's a very confident young man, he's prepared for this and he's got good stuff."
Finally, Willie Bloomquist is set to play either today or tomorrow at Salt River Fields. Gibson fully expects him to be ready to play for the D-backs come Friday.
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