D-Backs notebook: Upton given day off from rehab

Justin Upton was at Chase Field on Tuesday on a scheduled day off from his minor league rehabilitation stint.

He said there is no pain from the oblique muscle he strained before the All-Star break, but there is no timetable yet for his return.

Dunn's first Arizona homer powers Diamondbacks

“I’m just going to Tucson, playing games and trying to prepare myself for whenever I do come back,” he said. “I’m getting there. It’s a process. I’ve been out for a while and the goal is to be ready to play when I get back.”

Upton is hitting .360 with a homer and three RBIs in 25 at-bats at Triple-A Tucson.

The way the lineup and defense shakes out upon his return is the question hounding manager Bob Melvin.

The addition of slugger Adam Dunn gives the team one extra starter than there is room for on the field. The Diamondbacks had the same problem earlier in the season, but an injury to Eric Byrnes let Conor Jackson move to left field so he and Chad Tracy could both play every day.

Melvin said he’s not sure what to do yet.

“It will be very interesting to see, to the point where I’m not even 100 percent sure yet,” Melvin said. “We’ll tinker with it going forward and once (Upton) gets here, we’ll make some decisions.”

Melvin said it’s a good problem to have.

“You can’t have too much talent,” he said.

However it plays out, Dunn will be playing every day, Melvin said.

HOME-FIELD ADVANTAGE

Melvin said Dunn should have success at Chase Field, a noted hitter’s ballpark. The ball carries well, and ESPN’s Park Factor rates it as the best ballpark in the majors for offenses, edging out Colorado’s Coors Field.

Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, Dunn’s old home digs, is rated the 19th-best hitter’s park in the majors.

“This is a good place to hit,” Melvin said. “A guy that has power to all fields likes to hit in this ballpark. All you have to do is square it up. (Dunn) has as much power as anybody in the league, so he’s probably excited about hitting in this park. Most visiting teams that do come in and play here, the hitters are excited about it.”

Dunn took advantage of it in his third at-bat, knocking a 1-2 pitch from San Diego pitcher Josh Banks into the left-field seats for his first homer as a Diamondback, a two-run shot for a 6-2 lead.

DREW SITS

Shortstop Stephen Drew has been nursing a groin injury for the better part of a week and was held out of Tuesday’s game following the off day.

Augie Ojeda started at shortstop and Chris Burke at second base. Drew could be ready to play today.

SHORT HOPS

Orlando Hudson (wrist injury) rejoined the team and took the lineup card to home plate before the game. ... Ojeda led off an inning the first four times he batted.