Smith went 2-for-6 with a two-run homer and an additional RBI in Tuesday's win over the Nationals.
After going hitless (0-for-11) across his last three appearances, Smith rattled off a pair of hits Tuesday, highlighted by a seventh-inning long ball off Chad Kuhl. Though Smith has struggled atop the Arizona lineup (.147 AVG) so far, he should be expected to move back toward his season average of .212 and provide considerable fantasy value as the leadoff man for MLB's sixth highest scoring offense.
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Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Back in lineup
Rotowire
Smith batted leadoff and went 0-for-4 in Saturday's 5-2 loss to Atlanta.
Smith was back in the lineup after getting a day off Friday. He was also back at leadoff with Arizona facing right-hander Spencer Strider. The leadoff experiment started a couple of weeks ago and has produced mixed results. Smith is 5-for-30 (.167) with five walks (.286 OBP) in eight games atop the order, but the Diamondbacks have won six of those eight contests.
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Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Sitting Friday
Rotowire
Smith is not in the starting lineup Friday versus Atlanta.
Smith will get a day off after he went 3-for-8 with a homer, a double, four RBI and three runs scored while drawing four walks and striking out twice in the team's series with Colorado. Ketel Marte will slot in at designated hitter while Geraldo Perdomo enters the lineup as the leadoff batter in the series opener against Atlanta right-hander Charlie Morton.
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Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Reaches base five times
Rotowire
Smith went 2-for-2 with three walks, a double, one RBI and two runs scored in Wednesday's 6-0 win over Colorado.
Smith finally looked like a leadoff hitter Wednesday, reaching base five times, equaling the number of times he reached base safely over the previous eight contests as Arizona's leadoff batter. In nine games atop the order, Smith is 5-for-29 with five walks. The lefty hitter should be back there once again Thursday against Colorado right-hander Connor Seabold.
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Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: At leadoff again Wednesday
Rotowire
Smith is hitting leadoff again Wednesday against the Rockies.
Smith has batted just .212 with a .315 on-base percentage through 39 games (130 plate appearances) this season, but he's been at leadoff in each of his last four starts and seems to be the Diamondbacks' preferred option for that role against right-handed pitching. Colorado is throwing righty Dinelson Lamet on Wednesday.
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Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Swats three-run homer
Rotowire
Smith went 1-for-3 with a three-run home run and a walk in a 7-5 win against the Rockies on Monday.
Smith's lone hit of the game was a big one, as his 426-foot three-run shot in the second inning gave the Diamondbacks a lead that they did not relinquish. The long ball snapped a four-game hitless stretch for Smith during which he had gone 0-for-14. Despite the big blast Monday, the 27-year-old is batting a paltry .104 over his past 14 contests. On the plus side, three of his five hits during that span have left the park.
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Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Out against lefty
Rotowire
Smith isn't in the Diamondbacks' lineup Friday against the Red Sox.
Smith will begin Friday's contest in the dugout with the Red Sox sending southpaw Chris Sale to the mound. In Smith's place, Evan Longoria will serve as the DH and bat fifth.
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Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Not in lineup Tuesday
Rotowire
Smith is not in the lineup Tuesday against the Phillies.
Evan Longoria will take a turn at designated hitter and bat sixth versus the Phillies and left-hander Matt Strahm. Lourdes Gurriel, Dominic Fletcher and Corbin Carroll are starting across the outfield.
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Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Belts solo homer in win
Rotowire
Smith went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in Monday's 6-3 win over Philadelphia.
Smith's fifth-inning shot turned out to be the game-winning hit. It was the second straight game in which Smith batted leadoff, as it appears he'll be atop the order against righties. The home run, his fourth, was the second in the last three games after going 23 games without one.
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Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: In leadoff spot again
Rotowire
Smith is in the leadoff spot again for the Diamondbacks on Monday in Philadelphia.
It's the second game in a row that Smith has hit leadoff, as it appears it will be the new setup for Arizona at least against right-handed pitching. Josh Rojas had been the team's regular leadoff man versus righties but will again be hitting sixth in this one.
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Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Swats go-ahead home run
Rotowire
Smith went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Saturday's 4-3 victory over the Pirates.
Though Smith was retired by Mitch Keller in each of his first two plate appearances, Smith had the most important swing of the day, taking reliever Robert Stephenson yard for a two-run long shot that plated Lourdes Gurriel to give the Diamondbacks a one-run advantage. The homer was Smith's first since April 19 (23 games) and just his third of the year. In his last six appearances, Smith has hit just 2-for-21 (.095) with six strikeouts.
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Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Sitting versus lefty
Rotowire
Smith is not in the lineup Tuesday against the Marlins.
Arizona will go with a right-heavy lineup with left-hander Jesus Luzardo on the mound for Miami. Lourdes Gurriel is in left field, Corbin Carroll is in center and Dominic Fletcher is in right. Emmanuel Rivera will serve as the designated hitter.
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Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Sits against southpaw
Rotowire
Smith will be on the bench against lefty MacKenzie Gore and the Nationals on Saturday.
Smith has shown more this season that he'd previously shown at the big-league level, slashing .260/.373/.440, though that comes in a small sample of 59 plate appearances. That's earned him an increasing role, as he's started against each of the last eight righties the Diamondbacks have faced, but he's been in the lineup just once against a southpaw this season.
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Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Takes seat against Rangers
Rotowire
Smith is out of the lineup Wednesday against the Rangers.
The lefty-hitting Smith will take a seat with southpaw Andrew Heaney on the mound for Texas. Emmanuel Rivera is hitting second and serving as Arizona's designated hitter in Smith's absence.
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Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Out of lineup Friday
Rotowire
Smith is out of the lineup Friday against the Rockies.
Emmanuel Rivera is serving as Arizona's designated hitter and batting second with left-hander Kyle Freeland getting the start for Colorado. Smith boasts an overall .353/.463/.618 batting line on the season but has logged only five plate appearances against southpaws up to this point.
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Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Takes seat against southpaw
Rotowire
Smith is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Royals.
Smith will join fellow lefty hitter Josh Rojas on the bench for the series finale as the Diamondbacks stock up on extra right-handed bats with southpaw Ryan Yarbrough on the bump for Kansas City. Evan Longoria will replace Smith as the Diamondbacks' designated hitter.
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Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Starts for Walker
Rotowire
Smith started at first base in place of Christian Walker (forearm) and went 0-for-1 with two walks in Sunday's 7-5 loss to San Diego.
Walker sustained a forearm injury when he was hit by a pitch in Saturday's game and given Sunday off. The X-rays on Walker's arm came back negative, so there's reason to believe this was a one-game decision, after he played 10 consecutive games. The lefty-hitting Smith was eventually replaced by Lourdes Gurriel, who pinch hit in the eighth inning against lefty Tim Hill as Arizona mounted a comeback. Smith, who has filled in well when called on since being promoted from Triple-A Reno, would likely start Monday against Kansas City righty Brad Keller if Walker remains out.
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Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Keeps hitting
Rotowire
Smith started at designated hitter and went 2-for-3 with a walk, a home run and a second run scored in Wednesday's 14-5 loss to St. Louis.
Smith has hit safely in three straight games, including homers in the last two, and is up to .381 (8-for-21) with five extra-base hits since his callup from Triple-A Reno on April 8. He was added to the roster after Kyle Lewis (illness) landed on the injured list, and Lewis has not yet begun a planned rehab assignment. Additionally, it may be worth keeping Smith on the roster, given the paucity of production from primary outfielders Jake McCarthy (.453 OPS) and Alek Thomas (.564).
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Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Delivers key homer in win
Rotowire
Smith started at designated hitter and went 1-for-3 with a walk and a grand slam in Monday's 6-3 win over St. Louis.
Smith swatted his first career grand slam in the seventh inning, giving Arizona a comfortable 6-1 cushion entering the final two innings. The lefty-swinging Smith, who is 6-for-18 with four extra-base hits since being called up, looks like a different hitter this season after batting .220 and being sent to the minors a year ago. Smith told Theo Mackie of the Arizona Republic that he lost his way amid the struggles, focused on fastballs, and started chasing pitches. "Sometimes, you just get into those ruts and you start guessing. And a lot of times, you guess wrong," Smith said. Indeed, per Statcast, Smith sported a 24.1 chase percentage, continuing a trend that started in 2021. And by focusing on fastballs, he often watched hittable pitches go by, swinging at a career-low 55.9 percent of pitches in the zone. This season, the outfielder/first baseman has dropped his chase rate to 16.1 percent and upped his zone swing rate to 62.8 percent.
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Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Part of decisive inning
Rotowire
Smith went 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored in Sunday's 5-0 win over Miami.
Smith, who was inserted to the lineup at designated hitter against Miami righty Sandy Alcantara, had the first of three run-producing hits in a decisive four-run sixth inning. This was Smith's third start in seven games since being called up from Triple-A Reno to fill a roster spot created by Kyle Lewis' illness. Lewis has not yet begun a rehab assignment, so Smith's spot could be safe for another week.
