Diamondbacks deal with shortage at short vs. Cubs
CHICAGO -- Shortstop has suddenly become a fluid spot for the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Rookie Jack Reinheimer became the fourth player at the position in five games after a sequence of injury, tragedy, trade and call-up as Arizona manager Torrey Lovullo sought to stabilize the spot.
Reinheimer was the latest to play there on Wednesday as the Diamondbacks met the Chicago Cubs in the middle game of a three-game series at Wrigley Field.
Who will get slotted in for Thursday's series finale has yet to be determined.
"You lose two shortstops within 24 hours (and) you're kind of scrambling," Lovullo said. "But I believe in the guys we have here, and we'll get this figured out."
This much is known. The Diamondbacks became short-handed at short after they lost starter Chris Owings to a fractured finger when he was hit by a pitch last Sunday. The likely backup -- Ketel Marte -- abruptly left the team when his mother was killed in an auto accident in the Dominican Republic. He's on the bereavement list.
Arizona made a quick deal with Oakland on Monday, trading for Adam Rosales. He played Tuesday and Reinheimer, called up from Triple-A Reno on Tuesday, stepped in Wednesday.
Another option is veteran utility man Emilio Bonifacio, signed by the Diamondbacks to a minor league deal last weekend.
Another shortstop, Nick Ahmed, has been on the disabled list since late June with a fractured right hand after being hit by a pitch. He's not expected back until late August.
The Diamondbacks will send RHP Zack Greinke (13-4, 2.84 ERA) against Cubs left-hander Jose Quintana (2-1, 2.37 ERA) on Thursday.
Greinke has gone 5-0 with a 2.08 ERA in his last six games, allowing nine earned runs and holding opposing batters to a .129 average.
In 10 August starts since 2015, he's 6-2 with a 4.22 ERA, a .255 average and 59 strikeouts.
In five starts (32 2/3 innings) against the Cubs, Greinke is 2-1 with a 1.76 ERA and has held batters to a .215 average.
Quintana was 6-9 overall (4-8 with a 4.49 ERA in 18 starts with the White Sox) before coming to the Cubs in a trade.
He tossed a quality start in his last start at Milwaukee, July 29, but took the loss in a 2-1 setback.
Quintana is 0-2 with a 9.58 ERA in two career starts against the Diamondbacks. He faced Arizona earlier this season in an interleague series with the White Sox. He gave up eight earned runs in 4 1/3 innings on May 24.
Going from a last-place team into the thick of a pennant race is a new experience for Quintana.
"Now starts matter," Cubs left-hander Jon Lester told reporters recently. "When you're used to pitching on a losing team, you have to find ways to get motivated. I've done both. It's different. You're playing for something. You're playing for something greater. You're not playing to get through September and to your offseason plans."
The Cubs remain home for a three-game series against National League East-leading Washington on Friday. Arizona travels to San Francisco for a three-game set.
