Diamondbacks vs Padres live updates. Moreno back, but key stars sit

Gabriel Moreno walked into the Diamondbacks clubhouse a little after 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 5, and all of the congratulatory fist bumps, hugs and handshakes began.

The Diamondbacks catcher arrived for work fresh off of two days on the paternity list to be with his wife and their newborn daughter, Gianna. He looked happy and rested and was in the Diamondbacks lineup as the designated hitter against the San Diego Padres.

“Everybody’s good, my wife’s good,” Moreno said. “My baby girl is good at home. … My son, he’s a little bit jealous but he’s happy.”

The timing on the birth worked out well. Moreno was on a long road trip and was concerned he’d have to leave for Arizona on Sunday, Aug. 2, while the Diamondbacks were playing in Cleveland. But he was able to get back home with the team and be with his wife for the birth this week.

“I feel good. Feel really good to go out there and do my job,” Moreno said about getting back into playing again.

Moreno’s bat is needed in the Diamondbacks lineup. He was batting .298 going into Wednesday’s game and .308 against right-handed pitchers.

“He seems to be in a really good spot,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. “Overall, just glad he’s back in our lineup.”

In a corresponding move, the Diamondbacks optioned catcher/DH Adrian Del Castillo to Triple-A Reno, and also made a pitching roster move. Right-hander Ryan Thompson was placed on the 15-day injured list with a strained lower back, and left-handed pitcher Philip Abner was called up from Reno.

-Jose M. Romero

Second baseman Ketel Marte and third baseman Nolan Arenado are out of the Diamondbacks’ lineup, getting what Lovullo described as a much-needed day off for both.

“We feel good about getting guys off their feet, especially with the grind and the amount of games we’ve been playing consecutively,” Lovullo said. “It’s been a challenge. Those guys, especially Ketel, have been going extremely hard and it was just a day to get them off their feet.”

Marte has been mired in a brutal slump that has lasted the better part of the past month. Since July 4, he is hitting just .178/.246/.290 in 26 games. He is 0 for his past 13 and 7 for his past 46.

Arenado’s production has been strong in recent weeks, but he is 35 years old and hasn’t had a full day off since July 5. Each of the previous two times he did not start, he wound up entering the game late.

Both players have been staples in the lineup throughout the year. Of the Diamondbacks’ 114 games this season, Marte has played in 109 of them, Arenado in 108.

“I don’t want them to go backwards (physically),” Lovullo said. “They were, in my opinion, right at that point where their body was starting to say it’s time. I feel very good about the understudies coming in and getting the job done.”

Also out of the lineup is outfielder Max Kepler, who was removed early from Tuesday night’s game due to foot discomfort. He fouled a ball off his foot during pregame batting practice. Lovullo said Kepler was examined and cleared to play and was available off the bench.

-Nick Piecoro

Diamondbacks LHP Mitch Bratt (0-1, 5.23) vs. Padres RHP Casey Mize (4-6, 2.70).

At Chase Field: Bratt went five innings for the second consecutive outing, giving up just one run against the Guardians in his most recent start. … Bratt has been living dangerously since coming to the majors, issuing walks at a high clip. He walked four against the Guardians and has given out 15 free passes in 20 2/3 innings in the majors. … He has elicited decent whiff rates on his curveball (26.8 percent) and slider (28.6 percent) but has had trouble missing bats with his fastball (9.9 percent) and sinker (0 percent). … As of Tuesday morning, Aug. 4, the Padres had not named a starter for this game. … They acquired a pair of pitchers ahead of the deadline this week, adding RHP Casey Mize from the Tigers and LHP Robbie Ray from the Giants. … Mize has not pitched since July 25 and Ray since July 30, so either could be an option to start.

Thursday, Aug. 6: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks LHP Kohl Drake (0-0, 4.85) vs. Padres RHP Walker Buehler (6-5, 5.18).

Friday, Aug. 7: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Merrill Kelly (8-9, 5.04) vs. Dodgers RHP Roki Sasaki (5-5, 4.64).

Saturday, Aug. 8: At Chase Field, 5:10 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Brandon Pfaadt (6-1, 3.66) vs. Dodgers RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto (11-7, 2.76).

(This story has been updated to add information.)

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Diamondbacks vs Padres live updates. Moreno back, but key stars sit