Overview
- Manager Torey Lovullo announced Wednesday that Paul Sewald is out of the primary ninth-inning role and will be used in lower-leverage situations going forward.
- The change follows a prolonged downturn that has seen Sewald give up seven home runs and 13 earned runs since mid-June even though he has converted 24 of 27 save opportunities this season.
- Brandyn Garcia received the first post-Sewald save chance and worked a scoreless ninth, and Lovullo said the club will use matchups and a committee instead of naming a permanent successor immediately.
- Right-hander Juan Morillo is the front-line internal alternative because of strong recent performance, and Lovullo also listed Jonathan Loaisiga and Kevin Ginkel as candidates for late-inning duties.
- Justin Martinez remains on track for an early-August return from Tommy John rehab and could reshape the late-inning mix, so the Diamondbacks plan short-term adjustments while monitoring his rehab outings.