SAN DIEGO — Gabriel Moreno was scratched from the Diamondbacks’ starting lineup for their must-win Game 162. He had been listed as the designated hitter, but the left hamstring he hurt earlier in the series worsened on Saturday, Sept. 26.
Manager Torey Lovullo said no one in his bullpen is off limits — and even a couple of starting pitchers will be options, as well.
“Everybody’s available,” Lovullo said. “To what level, I’m not sure. We’re going to find that out right now, whether they can get one out or go one inning.”
Lovullo said left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez and right-hander Merrill Kelly will be available in relief.
Moreno did not appear to be moving well while walking through the clubhouse prior to the game. He also did not sound overly confident
he would be able to play when he spoke to reporters the night before.
The Diamondbacks are one game back of the Philadelphia Phillies for the final wild-card spot. If the Phillies win their game against the Tampa Bay Rays, the Diamondbacks are out. If the Phillies lose and the Diamondbacks win, the Diamondbacks will get the final playoff spot.
The Phillies-Rays game had been slated to start at 12:05 p.m. MST (3:05 p.m. ET), but storms in the area prompted the game to be moved up 30 minutes to 11:35 a.m. The teams are expected to have roughly a 2 1/2-hour window to play before heavy rain arrives later in the day.
Diamondbacks at Padres, 12:10 p.m., Cox, Ch. 34
Diamondbacks RHP Michael Soroka (9-5, 3.31) vs. Padres RHP Randy Vasquez (10-6, 4.01).
At Petco Park: Soroka allowed 2 runs (1 earned) in seven innings against the Rockies last week at Coors Field. He gave up just 1 run in five innings against the Marlins in the start before that. … Soroka has not faced the Padres this season. … Soroka has racked up whiffs on his curveball this season, eliciting swings and misses at a 36.3 percent rate. … This spot in the rotation belongs to RHP Michael King for the Padres, but he will not start in order to keep him available for Game 1 of the wild-card round. … Vasquez, who has bounced between the rotation and bullpen for the past few months, will take the ball instead. He faced the Diamondbacks in a crucial Game 161 in 2024 and fired six scoreless innings of one-hit ball in a Padres win. The Diamondbacks wound up missing the postseason by one game.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Diamondbacks at Padres live. Moreno scratched, Phillies time changed
