Diamondbacks notebook: Hot-hitting Hudson needs no rest

The National League can relax today. Orlando Hudson has the day off as the Diamondbacks travel.

Hudson hit his fifth home run of the season Wednesday and leads NL second basemen in batting average (.328) and on-base percentage (.390) while ranking second to Philadelphia’s Chase Utley in RBIs (27) and doubles (nine).

He has missed exactly 1 1/2 innings of the 324 1/3 innings the D-Backs have played this season, when he was removed in the last of the eighth inning in a blowout victory at Los Angeles on April 30.

“That’s the way it’s supposed to be. That’s the way I like it. I’m too young to be out of the lineup,” said Hudson, who missed only five games last season.

“I’m not here on vacation. I’m not here to enjoy the Arizona sun. I’m not here to play three days and take two days off. I’m here to play baseball.”

Hudson is one of 24 NL players to have started every game this year.

AS THE ROTATION TURNS

With off days today and Monday, the D-Backs are to skip Micah Owings in their next turn through the rotation, even though he gave up only two runs in seven innings in a 3-2 victory over Philadelphia on Tuesday.

“We’re concerned about getting our starters too much rest,” general manager Josh Byrnes said.

If the D-Backs stayed in rotation, both Owings and Randy Johnson would pitch with six days’ rest in the first two games of a three-game series in Colorado next Tuesday-Thursday.

Owings, 2-1 with a 3.18 ERA, will only miss one start, because the D-Backs play 16 straight games beginning Tuesday.

CRUZ TO BE ACTIVATED

Reliever Juan Cruz (triceps) was activated after the game Wednesday, when Dustin Nippert was optioned to Triple-A Tucson.

Nippert was 1-0 with a 3.86 ERA in 10 relief appearances for the D-Backs, but the organization still sees him as a starter and will stretch him out with an eye toward having him join the Sidewinders’ rotation as soon as possible.

“I just want to pitch,” Nippert said. “Whatever they want me to do. I’d rather start, but I want to be in the big leagues.”

Cruz struck out five of the six batters he faced on a rehab assignment Tuesday in Tucson, when his fastball topped out at 96 mph and he threw 29 pitches.

USING YOUR FEET

Owings showed his athleticism when he attempted to take second base on a head-first slide after third baseman Abraham Nunez could not handle his ground ball Tuesday, but the D-Backs would rather see him go in feet first to prevent possible injury.

Conor Jackson needed two stitches and missed two starts when he was spiked while sliding into home plate headfirst against San Francisco on May 29.

“He’s a pretty aggressive guy,” Melvin said of Owings. “I think we’re going to ask him to stop that.”

SHORT HOPS

Chad Tracy was given a day off Wednesday but is expected to start at third base Friday in Houston, Melvin said. Tracy has not played third since suffering a rib-cage injury May 1, when he was forced to leave the game in the third inning. …

The D-Backs have not been asked to send former pitcher Jason Grimsley’s medical information, as Baltimore has been asked to do, to George Mitchell as part of his investigation into illegal drug use in baseball, an Arizona official said. The official said he is unaware of any D-Backs who have been interviewed by Mitchell’s investigative committee.