Diamondbacks notebook: Tracy expected back today

Friday was Mark Reynolds’ first off day of his major league career. More are coming, but as long as the Diamondbacks’ rookie third baseman is here, he’s fine with it.

Following Chad Tracy’s 3-for-6 day in Triple-A Tucson, D-Backs manager Bob Melvin said the club is expected to activate Tracy from the 15-day disabled list and start him at third base in today’s series finale against Boston.

Melvin didn’t say who might be optioned to Tucson to make room for Tracy, but Robby Hammock appears to be the leading candidate.

Tracy spent three weeks on the DL with a strained oblique muscle he suffered in Colorado on May 15.

Ever since, Reynolds has been the talk of the town.

Now, he’s happy to stay in town.

“I’d rather stay here (than play every day in Tucson) and be part of what we’ve got going,” said Reynolds, who said Melvin told him this week he was going to stay with the team. “We’ve got a good team even though we’re young, and we’re starting to put it together a little bit. We’ve got something special going and I want to be a part of it.”

Reynolds entered Saturday’s game 1-for-14 during the current homestand, which dropped his average to .329. But he’s taken fielding practice in the infield and outfield, hoping to hang around enough to keep getting at-bats.

“I don’t care if I hit ninth behind the pitcher,” Reynolds said. “It’s out of my control and anyone’s control except for (Melvin). He writes the lineup and it’s my job to make it tough on him to take me out.”

He’s used to the shuffle since he often came off the bench during spring training.

The D-Backs have time before facing a squeeze on playing time. The team has a day off Monday before three-game series against the New York Yankees and Baltimore, in which the team can use Reynolds and Tracy in the field or as a designated hitter. They won’t return to National League games until June 18.

“As long as he’s not missing three or four games in a row, I think he’ll be able to keep his edge,” Melvin said.

NO RETURN FOR R.J.

As expected, Randy Johnson will not make the trip to New York for next week’s three-game series, and, once again, Melvin wanted to clear the air about who’s calling the shots.

“Not one time has he come to me and said I don’t want to go on a trip,” Melvin said. “I’ve approached him every time and at times he’s a little uncomfortable because of what’s written. It’s not true, that this guy is on his own program and doesn’t want to make trips with us. It’s not the case.”

Johnson will join the team in Baltimore, where he’s slated to start Friday.

SHORT HOPS

It was only one inning, but Melvin was impressed with reliever Jailen Peguero’s scoreless inning on Friday. “His major league debut in a game where they’re scoring runs. He went out there and had a pretty seamless inning and was pretty impressive. Had a big smile on his face when he came off.” …

Miguel Montero’s pinch-hit home run Friday was his third of the season in nine at-bats off the bench. Boston starter Josh Beckett won his ninth straight decision to start the season, the most by a Red Sox pitcher since Roger Clemens started 14-0 in 1986.