SAN DIEGO — The Arizona Diamondbacks will chase a postseason berth without their batting leader Sunday afternoon against the San Diego Padres, after catcher Gabriel Moreno was scratched from the lineup less than an hour before first pitch with a hamstring issue.
Moreno's hamstring felt "tender" during Friday night's series opener, according to manager Torey Lovullo, and he was removed in the seventh inning. The Diamondbacks did not believe the injury was severe and listed Moreno as the designated hitter Saturday night, but Lovullo said the hamstring tightened as the game wore on and Moreno told him he could not take his ninth-inning at-bat. There was still optimism Moreno would play Sunday and he was in the original lineup before testing the leg in the batting cage.
Moreno entered Sunday hitting .311, the best average in the National League, one point ahead of Philadelphia's Luis Arraez. Arraez injured his ankle Thursday and is not expected to play again in the regular season. If neither takes another at-bat, Moreno would become the first catcher to win a batting title since Buster Posey hit .336 for the San Francisco Giants in 2012.
Arizona faces a win-and-help scenario on the final day to secure a playoff spot. The finale in San Diego comes as the Diamondbacks need a win and a Phillies loss on the final day to reach the playoffs, leaving the lineup adjustment and Moreno's availability a key factor for both the postseason push and the NL batting race.