Big changes for the D-Backs ahead of the Cubs duel

A promising shortstop is preparing to make his debut for the Arizona Diamondbacksanother proven midfielder, says goodbye after 10 seasons with the club.

Jordan Lawlar, the sixth pick overall in the 2021 draft, is expected to make his major league debut Thursday night when the Diamondbacks Open a four-game away streak against the Chicago Cubs.

To make room for Lawlar in the Major League roster, the Diamondbacks appointed Nick Ahmed for the job. The 10-year veteran has played his entire major league career with Arizona, winning Gold Gloves in 2018 and 2019.

However, Ahmed found his batting average down to a .212, and he was 0-of-10 in four games in September after batting a .209 in August.

He hadn’t hit a home run since June 10.

Still, it came as a surprise to Ahmed.

“Obviously disappointed. I spent a long time here and just gave everything I could,” he said. “Ten years and tearing off a patch in 10 minutes.”

Lawlar had a .358 batting average, hit five homers and had 19 runs in 16 games with Triple-A Reno.

The Diamondbacks (72-68) clinched a 12-5 win over the visiting Colorado Rockies on Wednesday afternoon and remain in the hunt for a National League wild card. They’re a half-game behind the Miami Marlins (72-67), who are the final playoff berth in the NL.

It’s also a big streak for Chicago (76-64), who with a win Thursday can come within a game of the top-ranked Brewers (77-62) in the NL Central. Milwaukee, which has lost three of four games, is off.

The Boy have won four games in a row, going over .500 in 12 games for the first time this season. Most recently, they won three games on Wednesday afternoon with an 8-2 win over the visiting San Francisco Giants.

Chicago received another strong performance on Wednesday from rookie left-hander Jordan Wicks, who won his third straight start, beginning his major league career.

The Boy will pass the ball to another rookie in the series opener against Arizona. Javier Assad (3-2, 2.69 ERA) is expected to make his 26th appearance and eighth start of the season.

Assad went 2-0 up in August with a 2.48 ERA in five starts before throwing eight innings of shutout in his final game on Saturday in Cincinnati. He strayed seven hits, hit seven and missed one, but failed to make the decision in Chicago’s 2-1 loss.

Assad had a good chance of winning as Chicago took a 1-0 lead in the ninth game, but the Reds scored two runs to take the win.

“I want to go out there and do my best,” Assad said. “Thank God everything went great. Whatever the team needs from me, I will go and just do it.”

Diamondbacks Right fielder Corbin Carroll, the top contender for NL Rookie of the Year awards, walked out of Wednesday’s game in the fourth inning after being hit by pitchers on two consecutive bats. The team said he had a bruise on his right wrist. However, he is expected to return on Thursday when the pain subsides.

Arizona coach Torey Lovullo announced after Wednesday’s game that Reno right-hander Ryne Nelson would be called back to start Thursday.

Nelson (6-7, 5.47 ERA) was last for the Diamondbacks on August 11, when he conceded six runs and seven hits in three innings in a 10-5 loss to the visiting San Diego Padres. Two days later he was assigned to the minors.

—Field-level media