Diamondbacks DH Scratched From Lineup vs Dodgers

Arizona Diamondbacks DH Pavin Smith was scratched from the opening day lineup against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday with left elbow soreness, according to multiple reports. Infield/outfield utility Tim Tawa will take over the DH slot and bat ninth for Arizona.

Following the Diamondbacks' ugly 8-2 blowout loss on opening night, Smith told reporters that he will undergo imaging on his elbow on Friday to determine severity (h/t Alex Weiner on X/Twitter).

Not that Smith's presence might have been the difference between a win and a loss Thursday night, but Arizona did struggle to plate runs against a tough Dodgers right-hander. Tawa went 1-for-3 with an infield single.

Smith had been battling a forearm issue earlier in camp, alongside Gabriel Moreno, but never underwent imaging and appeared to have gotten past what was a minor concern at the time.

Manager Torey Lovullo did not appear to be extremely concerned with this injury, either, but Smith said he had to shut down taking swings Thursday as a result of discomfort (h/t Steve Gilbert of MLB).

Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith scratched from lineup Thursday vs Dodgers

Arizona's new-look lineup for Thursday night's game was as follows:

1 - 2B Ketel Marte

2 - RF Corbin Carrroll

3 - SS Geraldo Perdomo

4 - C Gabriel Moreno

5 - 3B Nolan Arenado

6 - 1B Carlos Santana

7 - LF Jordan Lawlar

8 - CF Alek Thomas

9 - DH Tim Tawa

Smith hit to a .258/.362/.434 slash in the 2025 season, but battled injuries throughout. A righty-crushing slugger, the hope was Smith could return to a high level of production if healthy.

As it currently stands, the D-backs do not have many lefty-hitting options available, with Adrian Del Castillo working his way back from a calf strain and a lineup of all right-handed hitters in Triple-A Reno.

And beyond the platoon issues, the absence of Smith would leave the D-backs without much in the way of first base options. Carlos Santana, who figured to be getting the majority of the defensive reps at first due to his superior defense, would not have a clear-cut secondary option behind him.

Utilitymen Ildemaro Vargas and Tim Tawa both have experience at first base after both playing the position toward the end of the 2025 regular season, but neither are true first basemen. Smith, despite being the less-proficient defender compared to Santana, was the other end of an assumed platoon at the position.

As of this writing, it is unclear as to the severity of Smith's issue. Diamondbacks On SI will continue to report on the situation as it develops.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow