Diamondbacks want to delay Bobby Witt Jr. and Royals

In preparation for Game 2 of their three-game road series against the Kansas City Royals, the Arizona Diamondbacks have won 12 of 19 games to move from fourth place in the National League West to a wild-card contender.

Four Diamondbacks hitters lead the offense. Ketel Marte, Christian Walker, Eugenio Suarez and Gabriel Moreno have combined for 14 homers and 52 RBIs while hitting a combined .318 in 19 games since June 29.

Marte, who had a home run and a single on Monday, has reached base safely in 20 of 22 games. The All-Star second baseman hit a deep drive to give Arizona a 3-1 lead in the third inning on Monday, but Kansas City came back for a 10-4 victory. All-Star Cole Ragans’ homer was Marte’s 13th against left-handed pitching — the most in the majors.

Arizona has also enjoyed solid starting pitching during its climb — with the notable exception of Yilber Diaz’s three-plus-inning, seven-run outing on Monday. The Diamondbacks’ rotation has posted a 2.89 ERA in its previous 11 games.

The starting staff gets a boost Tuesday, as Jordan Montgomery returns after a four-week absence. The left-handed pitcher has made enough progress from a right knee infection that he will skip a rehab assignment and start against the Royals.

“He threw a simulated game today,” Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said Thursday. “Kept it at 92-93 (mph). Everything was good.”

In three career starts against Kansas City, Montgomery is 0-1 with a 5.74 ERA. He last appeared against the Royals on July 31, 2022, in his final start for the New York Yankees, allowing four runs on four hits in four-plus innings.

The Diamondbacks will make a roster move before Tuesday’s game to sign Montgomery (6-5, 6.44 ERA) off the injured list.

Alec Marsh (7-6, 4.52 ERA) will take the mound for Kansas City.

The right-handed pitcher won his last start on July 10 at St. Louis, allowing three runs on three hits and striking out eight in six innings. He also threw a scoreless relief inning on Friday against the Chicago White Sox.

Marsh has never played against the Diamondbacks.

Thanks to the fiery bat of Bobby Witt Jr., the Royals have won four games in a row.

Witt won American League Player of the Week honors and recorded three hits in every game of Kansas City’s three-game weekend sweep of the Chicago White Sox, followed by another three-hit game on Monday. He tied Johnny Damon (2000) for the Royals’ second-longest streak of games with at least three hits, behind only George Brett’s six in a row in 1976.

Witt has made 12 of 15 attempts in four games since the All-Star break.

“I think I’m in a good spot,” Witt said. “I just have to keep doing what I’m doing. The biggest thing in this game is to be consistent, not try to do too much. Just try to make good things happen for the team.”

The Royals hope to bolster their outfield with the return of MJ Melendez, who suffered a sprained left ankle while running out a grounder in a 5-4 loss at Boston in the final game before the All-Star break. He was placed on the 10-day IL during the All-Star break, retroactive to July 15.

Melendez was initially expected to be out for about two weeks, but he practiced before Monday’s game and is expected to be activated as soon as he is eligible before the season opener against the visiting Chicago Cubs on Friday.

“He’s doing well,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said Monday. “He felt comfortable today. Today and tomorrow will be a big benchmark.”