Diamondbacks' Randal Grichuk: Serves as DH in opener
Rotowire
Grichuk started at designated hitter and went 1-for-2 in Thursday's 10-6 loss to the Cubs.
Arizona is expected to use a platoon at the DH spot, with Grichuk facing lefties and Pavin Smith handling righties. That played out Thursday, as Grichuk was eventually pinch hit for by Smith in the sixth inning when right-hander Nate Pearson entered the game. Chicago will send right-hander Jameson Taillon to the mound Friday, so expect Grichuk to be on the bench.
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Diamondbacks' Randal Grichuk: Back in action Thursday
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Grichuk (ankle) will start in left field and bat third in Thursday's Cactus League game versus the Athletics.
Grichuk was unavailable for a couple days while battling some left ankle soreness, but he's ready to roll now. The veteran outfielder is slated to start against lefties for the Diamondbacks this season.
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Diamondbacks' Randal Grichuk: Dealing with ankle soreness
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Grichuk is dealing with left ankle soreness following Monday's 11-5 loss to the Angels, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.
Grichuk went 1-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored in the contest, but apparently left the game a little worse for wear. Manager Torey Lovullo said that the outfielder's injury is "nothing alarming" and Grichuk isn't expected to miss any time. Grichuk can be considered day-to-day for the time being, but his status for Opening Day doesn't appear to be in question.
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Diamondbacks' Randal Grichuk: Delivers two hits in return
Rotowire
Grichuk started in left field and went 2-for-3 with a solo home run in Monday's spring game against the Cubs.
Grichuk returned to action after being scratched Saturday due to back tightness. He made an immediate impact, homering in his first at-bat. The right-handed batter had a strong season in a part-time role for the Diamondbacks in 2024, when he recorded a .914 OPS against lefties.
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Diamondbacks' Randal Grichuk: Returning to spring lineup
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Grichuk will be included in the lineup in Monday's Cactus League game against the Cubs after missing a couple of days with lower-back tightness, Jack Sommers of SI.com reports.
Grichuk was initially scratched from Arizona's spring lineup Saturday due to what the team referred to as glute discomfort, but the injury was apparently back-related. Assuming he emerges from spring training fully healthy, Grichuk looks poised to fill a short-side platoon role for Arizona at designated hitter or in the corner outfield.
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Diamondbacks' Randal Grichuk: Scratched Saturday
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Grichuk was scratched from the lineup for Saturday's Cactus League game against the Rockies due to glute soreness, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.
The team isn't too concerned about Grichuk's injury, so there's a good chance he gets back to game action within a few days. In the meantime, A.J. Vukovich will pick up a start in left field Saturday.
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Diamondbacks' Randal Grichuk: Returns to AZ on one-year deal
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Grichuk agreed to a one year, $5 million deal with the Diamondbacks on Tuesday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
Grichuk can earn up to $5.5 million through incentives in the deal. The 33-year-old declined his mutual option with Arizona at the end of October, but he now returns after appearing in 106 games during 2024. Grichuk generated an impressive .876 OPS across 279 plate appearances last season, just shy of the career-best .877 he posted in 2015 for St. Louis. The right-handed veteran balances a lineup that skews lefty and should fill a short-side platoon role at designated hitter in 2025, considering his .319 average and .914 OPS over 184 plate appearances versus southpaws a season ago. Depending on how well Pavin Smith and others handle right-handed pitching as part of a DH platoon, there could be additional opportunities for Grichuk.
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Randal Grichuk: Declines mutual option
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Grichuk has declined his end of a $6 million mutual option for 2025, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
He'll receive a $1.5 million buyout from Arizona and is now a free agent. Grichuk thrived in a short-side platoon role with the Diamondbacks in 2024, slashing .291/.348/.528 with 12 homers in 106 games, which included a .914 OPS versus left-handed pitching. The 33-year-old might be able to land a multi-year contract this winter after his strong season.
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Diamondbacks' Randal Grichuk: Homers in Sunday's win
Rotowire
Grichuk is 2-for-5 with a two-run home run and two additional runs scored during Sunday's 11-2 win over the Padres.
The three runs tied his season high, and the long ball was his 12th of the campaign. Grichuk's homer came against Matt Waldron in the eighth inning, plating Alek Thomas and extending the Diamondbacks lead. In his first year for Arizona, Grichuk is slashing .289/.347/.518 across 279 plate appearances.
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Diamondbacks' Randal Grichuk: Goes deep in win
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Grichuk went 2-for-4 with a double, a solo home run and an additional run scored in Wednesday's 9-4 win over Colorado.
Grichuk was responsible for one of the three home runs the Diamondbacks hit in the first two innings, giving them an early 6-0 lead. The homer was his 11th of the season and seventh in the last 15 games. During that stretch, the 33-year-old outfielder has slashed .459/.487/1.135 with 11 extra-base hits, 17 RBI and 13 runs scored.
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Diamondbacks' Randal Grichuk: Back in lineup Wednesday
Rotowire
Grichuk (lower body) will start at designated hitter and bat third in Wednesday's game versus the Rockies.
Grichuk had to be scratched from the Diamondbacks' lineup Sunday due to lower-body tightness, but he's been available off the bench the last two days and is starting Wednesday's game as the Rockies send southpaw Austin Gomber to the bump. The righty-hitting Grichuk is slashing .305/.370/.494 against lefties this season.
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Diamondbacks' Randal Grichuk: Available Monday
Rotowire
Grichuk (lower body) is expected to be available off the bench for Monday's game against the Rockies, Jesse Friedman of GoPHNX.com reports.
Grichuk was scratched from Sunday's starting lineup due to lower-body tightness, but he felt good enough to pinch hit later in the game and should be available in a similar capacity Monday if needed. The Diamondbacks are considering the outfielder day-to-day until further notice.
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Diamondbacks' Randal Grichuk: Scratched from Sunday's lineup
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Grichuk was scratched from the lineup for Sunday's game against the Brewers due to lower-body tightness, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.
Grichuk was scheduled to start in left field and bat third, but the back issue will instead keep him out of the lineup. The veteran outfielder is expected to be available off the bench, so he doesn't appear to be dealing with a serious injury. Pavin Smith is instead starting in left field for Arizona.
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Diamondbacks' Randal Grichuk: Homers early in win
Rotowire
Grichuk went 2-for-5 with a double, a home run and three RBI in Wednesday's 14-4 win over Texas.
Grichuk started against a left-hander and showed immediately why he was in the lineup. His two-run homer in the first inning was the third of three consecutive extra-base hits for Arizona. Grichuk later capped the scoring with a run-producing double in the eighth, the last of the Diamondbacks' 13 extra-base hits, which tied a franchise record. The 32-year-old has adjusted well to a part-time gig, posting an .821 OPS over 256 plate appearances -- the fewest PAs since his rookie year of 2014 (other than the pandemic-shortened 2020).
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Diamondbacks' Randal Grichuk: Stuck in short-side platoon role
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Grichuk is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Astros.
Grichuk started in left field in each of the last three games, with the Diamondbacks facing left-handed starting pitchers on all occasions. He's been on the bench, however, for each of the Diamondbacks' three matchups with right-handed pitchers since Lourdes Gurriel (calf) landed on the injured list Tuesday. Grichuk looks as though he'll be ticketed for the short side of a platoon in left field with Pavin Smith until Gurriel returns from the IL.
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Diamondbacks' Randal Grichuk: Two homers Tuesday
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Grichuk went 3-for-5 with two homers, three RBI and three runs scored in Tuesday's win over the Giants.
Grichuk is making a case for manager Torey Lovullo to keep him in the lineup even against righties with Lourdes Gurriel (calf) landing on the 10-day injured list Tuesday. Over his last five games, Grichuk is 9-for-15 with four homers and nine RBI while raising his OPS nearly 100 points from .735 to .828. Tuesday's effort was his first multi-homer game since Sept. 6, 2022 and he's doubled his season home run total over this hot stretch. For the year, Grichuk is slashing .284/.342/.486 with 26 extra-base hits, 34 RBI, 32 runs and a 17:41 BB:K in 240 plate appearances.
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Diamondbacks' Randal Grichuk: Muscles up in win
Rotowire
Grichuk went 3-for-5 with a three-run home run, a double, an additional RBI and three total runs scored in Sunday's 14-3 win over the Dodgers.
Grichuk was one of six Diamondbacks with multiple hits, but he was the only one to log three hits in the game. His homer capped off an eight-run second inning, and he tacked on an RBI single in the eighth. The veteran outfielder hit a paltry .243 over 16 games in last month, but three of his six homers this year have come since the start of August. He's now at a .274/.330/.453 slash line with 31 RBI, 28 runs scored, 16 doubles, two triples and no stolen bases over 233 plate appearances while filling a short-side platoon role.
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Diamondbacks' Randal Grichuk: Homers in loss
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Grichuk went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run in Thursday's 3-2 loss to the Mets.
Grichuk gave the Diamondbacks a 2-1 lead in the third inning with his fifth homer of the season. He earlier singled to snap a hitless streak of 12 at-bats. Grichuk has been a reliable platoon bat for Arizona, posting a .289/.359/.422 slash line against left-handers.
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Diamondbacks' Randal Grichuk: Batting second Thursday
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Grichuk will serve as Arizona's designated hitter and No. 2 batter in Thursday's game against the Mets.
Grichuk will crack the lineup for the second time in the series, with both starting assignments coming while the Mets have sent left-handers to the mound. The 33-year-old continues to fill a short-side platoon role for the Diamondbacks, either as a replacement at DH for Joc Pederson or in the outfield for Corbin Carroll or Jake McCarthy when Arizona faces southpaws.
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Diamondbacks' Randal Grichuk: Continues to sit vs. righties
Rotowire
Grichuk is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Pirates.
Grichuk drew starts in all three games of the Diamondbacks' series with the Nationals to close out July, though Washington brought southpaws to the hill for each of those contests. With the Pirates starting three right-handers (Luis Ortiz, Mitch Keller and Paul Skenes), Grichuk has been on the bench for each contest in Pittsburgh and still looks to be locked into a short-side platoon role.
