D-Backs notebook: Team calls up Upton, Scherzer

The Diamondbacks brought back Justin Upton and Max Scherzer on Friday. Now, how to put them to work?

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Upton, the regular right fielder before suffering a left oblique muscle injury July 9, may find himself in a platoon role, as he was down the stretch in 2007. Scherzer was told to expect a bullpen role.

“I think Justin knows this is a pennant race and every day we will try to put the best lineup out there,” general manager Josh Byrnes said.

“He can help us. We love his talent. His role is less defined, obviously. The acquisition of Adam Dunn has some ripple effects.

“We have to read a few of our situations on a day-to-day basis — matchups, who’s hot, who’s not.”

Dunn is hitting .277 with nine RBIs in 15 games, and with 19 walks. His on-base percentage is .485.

Upton is hitting .242 with 11 homers — he hit .327 with five homers through April but .193 since. He hit .279 with three homers and 10 strikeouts in 14 rehab games in Tucson.

Dunn started in right field Friday and has started every D-Backs game in outfield, but Melvin said Dunn “may get some time at first.”

That presumably would come against left-handed pitchers, with Upton playing right field and left-handed hitting first baseman Chad Tracy getting a day off.

“They haven’t said anything to me yet, but at this point we’re just trying to win ballgames,” said Upton, seemingly accepting of a lesser role.

Dunn and D-Backs infield coach Chip Hale had a short refresher chat about playing first base before the game. Dunn has played 108 games at first, none since 2006.

“He wanted to bring me out and go over some stuff,” Dunn said. “I want to be ready if it ever happens.”

BULLPEN FOR SCHERZER

The D-Backs like Scherzer as a future member of their starting rotation, but he is likely to pitch out of the bullpen the rest of this season.

“That’s where he’ll start,” Byrnes said. Starting pitching “is not our distinct area of need. In the long view, he made positive strides as a starter this year, and we’re inclined to keep him on that track.”

Scherzer was 2-2 with a 2.90 ERA with the D-Backs, starting three times, and had a 2.72 ERA in 13 games with Tucson, starting 10 and limiting opponents to a .182 batting average. He missed a month with shoulder inflammation but was 1-1 with a 2.60 after returning in late July.

“It’s a great time to come back, with playoff fever going on,” Scherzer said.

LEFT-HANDER LEDEZMA ADDED

The D-Backs claimed left-hander Wilfredo Ledezma off waivers from San Diego on Friday, and he was to join the team today. He will give them a lefty in the bullpen that they have lacked since optioning Doug Slaten to the minor leagues last Sunday.

Ledezma was 0-2 with a 4.47 ERA in 25 games with the Padres this season, starting six times. He has 49 strikeouts and 38 walks in 54 1/3 innings. Lefties are hitting .240 against him.

SHORT HOPS

Micah Owings is throwing at the D-Backs’ training facility in Tucson, but the D-Backs are prevented by rule from pitching him since he is the final player they owe Cincinnati in the Adam Dunn deal. A team cannot benefit from players on both sides of a deal. Owings can be sent to Cincinnati on Sept. 29, the first day waivers are not required to complete the deal.

Alex Romero and Leo Rosales were optioned to Tucson on Friday when Upton and Scherzer were brought up. Both are expected to return when rosters expand on Sept. 1.