Smith was signed to a minor-league contract by the Guardians on Friday.
The 28-year-old hasn't pitched in the majors since he was a member of the Diamondbacks in 2021. Smith was pitching for Cleburne in the Independent League this season where he posted a 5.73 ERA over 44 innings. He'll provide organizational depth for the Guardians.
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Rockies' Riley Smith: Joins Colorado organization
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Smith agreed Monday on a minor-league contract with the Rockies, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
Smith will continue his career within the NL West after his seven-year tenure with the Diamondbacks organization came to an end when Arizona released him in April. The 27-year-old righty previously made 30 appearances (six starts) at the big-league level between the past two seasons, amassing a 5.04 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 9.2 K-BB% over 85.2 innings. He'll report to Triple-A Albuquerque and could occupy a rotation spot for Colorado's top affiliate.
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Diamondbacks' Riley Smith: Cast off 40-man roster
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Smith was outrighted to Triple-A Reno on Friday.
Smith made a career-high 24 appearances (six starts) in the majors last year but sputtered to a 6.01 ERA and 1.50 WHIP in 67.1 innings. He'll now lose his spot on the 40-man roster ahead of the 2022 campaign.
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Diamondbacks' Riley Smith: Reinstated, sent down
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Smith (undisclosed) was reinstated from the COVID-19 injured list and optioned to Triple-A Reno on Thursday.
Smith was one of several Diamondbacks who landed on the COVID-19 IL last week, and he'll be unable to maintain his spot on the active roster after clearing the league's health and safety protocols. Since the start of June, the right-hander has posted a 6.67 ERA and 1.45 WHIP in 28.1 innings.
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Diamondbacks' Riley Smith: Heads to injured list
Rotowire
Smith was placed on the COVID-19 injured list Friday.
The Diamondbacks are dealing with a COVID-19 outbreak among their players, and Smith was one of several players who landed on the injured list Friday. Whether the right-hander has tested positive for the virus remains to be seen.
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Diamondbacks' Riley Smith: Works in relief
Rotowire
Smith struck out two over two perfect innings in relief during Sunday's 5-2 loss to the Giants.
Smith's usage out of the bullpen seemingly takes him out of the running for a spot in the Arizona rotation for the final week of the first half of the season after he worked as a starter in his previous outing June 30. The right-hander hasn't been particularly effective whether he's been deployed as a starter or as a reliever this season, posting a collective 5.83 ERA and 1.48 WHIP across 63.1 innings.
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Diamondbacks' Riley Smith: Roughed up by Cardinals
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Smith (1-4) yielded four runs on seven hits while striking out one in three innings against St. Louis on Wednesday.
Arizona moved Smith from the bullpen into the rotation, and the Cardinals got to him for two runs each in the second and third innings to knock him from the game. The 26-year-old has appeared in 20 games (six starts) for the Diamondbacks this season, and it hasn't been pretty regardless of role. Opponents are hitting .312 off Smith, who owns a 6.02 ERA and 1.53 WHIP over 61.1 innings. He hasn't been able to miss bats, either, fanning only 33.
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Diamondbacks' Riley Smith: In line to start Wednesday
Rotowire
The Diamondbacks list Smith as their probable starter for Wednesday's game against the Cardinals.
Smith has already made five starts for Arizona this season, posting a 7.36 ERA in 22 innings while allowing opposing batters to hit .337 against him. The 26-year-old hasn't fared dramatically better since moving to a relief role, but the Diamondbacks' lack of quality alternative options means he'll get another look in the rotation. Smith should be reasonably built up for starting duties after covering 3.2 innings (50 pitches) in his most recent relief appearance June 25 against the Padres.
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Diamondbacks' Riley Smith: Logs multiple innings in relief
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Smith allowed four runs on three hits and struck out one over 3.2 innings of relief in Friday's 11-5 loss to the Padres.
Smith was needed for bulk relief early after the Padres chased starter Corbin Martin, who allowed four runs in a third of an inning. The Diamondbacks will have discussions about Martin's place in the rotation, per Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic, so Smith could be an option to start next Wednesday in St. Louis. Smith has made five starts and nine of his 14 relief outings have been at least two innings, so he's stretched out for the job. The right-hander has a 7.36 ERA in five starts and a 4.71 ERA as a reliever.
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Diamondbacks' Riley Smith: Provides bulk relief
Rotowire
Smith allowed two runs on four hits and struck out five over 4.2 relief innings in Sunday's 10-3 loss to the Angels.
Smith has been needed for similar bulk-relief appearances, as Arizona's rotation is decimated by injuries and poor performance. On Sunday, he spelled Jon Duplantier, who departed after 1.1 innings and six runs allowed. It's uncertain if Duplantier will remain in the rotation after a four-start run yielded a 13.15 ERA. Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo apologized to reporters for being late to the post-game press conference, per Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic, telling the scribes they were discussing plans for the rotation, which could mean the end of Duplantier. With so many injuries, there are few options available, but Smith could be one. Even though his track record as a starter in 2021 hasn't been good (1-3, 7.36 ERA, five starts), the right-hander has a 2.79 ERA and 1.29 WHIP over the last 19.1 innings as a reliever.
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Diamondbacks' Riley Smith: Works three innings in relief
Rotowire
Smith allowed a run on six hits over three innings in Wednesday's loss to the Mets. He did not factor in the decision.
Smith served as a bulk reliever after Madison Bumgarner (shoulder) was removed after two innings. The 26-year-old Smith was solid, with the only run against him coming on Brandon Drury's RBI single in the fifth inning. The right-hander has a 5.36 ERA, 1.57 WHIP and 21:12 K:BB across 42 innings. He's made five starts in 13 appearances, but Smith should be expected to fill a low-leverage bullpen role.
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Diamondbacks' Riley Smith: Earns first save
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Smith picked up a three-inning save, allowing just four hits and a walk while striking out four in the win over the Cardinals on Sunday.
Smith picked up the uncommon three-inning save with a 9-2 victory Sunday. The 26-year-old has had a rough season, with this being just his third appearance without allowing a run. He has a 5.54 ERA and a 1.54 WHIP over 39 innings. He is not a large strikeout threat, with just a 4.9 K/9. The righty serves best as a bulk-inning reliever.
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Diamondbacks' Riley Smith: Shifts to bullpen
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Smith covered three innings of long relief Tuesday in Arizona's 8-0 loss to San Francisco. He gave up one run on five hits and two walks in the 59-pitch appearance.
After making five starts for Arizona earlier in the season, both of Smith's most recent two appearances have come out of the bullpen. Even with three members of the Opening Day rotation (Zac Gallen, Luke Weaver and Taylor Widener) currently residing on the injured list, Smith looks like he'll remain on the outside looking in for a starting role for the time being. With a 6.35 ERA and a 3.3 K-BB% across 34 innings this season, Smith hasn't made a compelling case for the Diamondbacks to give him anything more than mop-up work.
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Diamondbacks' Riley Smith: Overwhelmed in loss
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Smith (1-3) suffered the loss against Washington on Friday, allowing eight runs on eight hits and two walks and registering zero strikeouts across three innings.
Smith's outing started ominously when Trea Turner took him deep on the second pitch of the game, and the right-hander's night didn't get much better thereafter. Washington put up a six-spot against him in the first frame and followed with an additional run in both the second and third innings. Smith ended up needing 67 pitches to retire nine batters and gave up as many earned runs as in his previous three starts combined. With the poor outing, his ERA now sits at an unappealing 6.83, and he has only one strikeout over his past seven innings. Injuries in the Arizona rotation have pushed Smith into a starting role, and Friday's rough outing isn't likely to change that. His next start is currently scheduled to come on the road against the Dodgers on Wednesday.
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Diamondbacks' Riley Smith: Takes loss Sunday
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Smith (1-2) allowed two runs on four hits and a walk with one strikeout in four innings, taking the loss Sunday versus the Mets.
Smith gave up both runs during the third inning -- the only frame in which he allowed multiple hits. The 26-year-old threw 51 pitches (32 strikes) in his fourth start of the season. He's posted a 4.85 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 12:9 K:BB in 26 innings across seven appearances. Smith is likely to remain in the rotation at least until Taylor Widener (groin) is ready to return. If Smith gets another start, it would likely be next weekend versus Washington.
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Diamondbacks' Riley Smith: No-decision against Marlins
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Smith didn't factor into the decision in Tuesday's 9-3 loss to the Marlins, allowing three runs on five hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out four.
The right-hander served up a three-run shot to Brian Anderson in the first inning but settled down after that, tossing 75 pitches (49 strikes) before exiting. Smith was on the hook for the loss until Arizona tied the game in the top of the eighth, only for the bullpen to completely implode in the late innings. He'll take a 4.91 ERA and a poor 11:8 K:BB through 22 innings into his next outing.
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Diamondbacks' Riley Smith: Starting Tuesday
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Smith will start Tuesday against the Marlins, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.
Smith was called up to start against the Padres on Wednesday and allowed three runs in four innings. The Diamondbacks didn't initially commit to him remaining in the rotation, but he'll do so for at least one more start.
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Diamondbacks' Riley Smith: Not confirmed as starter
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The Diamondbacks have not yet committed to Smith as a member of the rotation, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.
Smith was called up to replace the injured Taylor Widener (groin) and tossed four-plus innings Wednesday. He allowed three runs and six hits, with all the scoring damage occurring in the fifth inning. Manager Torey Lovullo said the decision-makers are having discussions on a path forward, while acknowledging Smith threw the ball well and gave Arizona what it needed that night. The Diamondbacks have an off-day Monday, which would have been Widener's next turn, so Lovullo has some wiggle room before making a decision.
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Diamondbacks' Riley Smith: Takes loss in four-inning start
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Smith (1-1) was tagged with the loss against San Diego on Wednesday, tossing four innings and allowing three runs on six hits without walking or striking out any batters.
The right-hander was called up from the alternate site to start following an out-of-nowhere injury to expected starter Taylor Widener. Smith kept Arizona in the game despite the circumstances, getting through four scoreless frames before the Padres racked up three straight singles against him to start the fifth. That spelled the end of the night for the 26-year-old, and San Diego went on to tally six runs in the inning, three of which were charged to Smith. It's not clear how long Widener will be sidelined or how the Diamondbacks will fill his starting spot, though an off-day Monday allows them the flexibility to simply skip over the turn and deploy their starters on regular rest if they choose to.
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Diamondbacks' Riley Smith: Starting bullpen game Wednesday
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Smith was recalled from the alternate site and will start Wednesday's game against the Padres.
This will essentially be a bullpen game, as projected starter Taylor Widener was surprisingly placed on the injured list with a groin strain hours before first pitch. Smith most recently logged two innings over two appearances out of the bullpen on April 21 and April 22.
