NL West Notebook: Kennedy on comeback trail; De La Rosa set to make season debut

Every Saturday, theScore's MLB editors will bring you a roundup of everything you need to know from around the division with the NL West Notebook.

Arizona Diamondbacks

Tomas up, but not starting. The Diamondbacks made a surprise move by promoting offseason Cuban signee Yasmany Tomas earlier in the week, despite his spring training struggles and weak .190/.261/381 batting line at Triple-A Reno. Even more surprising, the team isn't playing him. Tomas, for now, will have to get used to life as a pinch-hitter. "We definitely needed a player that we felt comfortable with coming here and not having any fear swinging the bat, because we're going to need a player off the bench," Diamondbacks general manager Dave Stewart said. Arizona signed Tomas to a six-year, $68.5-million contract. 

Bradley booming. Archie Bradley's career couldn't have started any better. The Diamondbacks' top prospect has a 1.42 ERA and 0.87 WHIP after two starts. His control has been suspect, but he's logged six-plus innings in each outing and has 10 strikeouts. "I feel very comfortable when I get on the mound," Bradley said. "I just feel like I have a very good idea of what to do. I feel very confident in the game plan that we come up with."

Colorado Rockies

Rockies rocking. Colorado, predicted by most to be among the worst teams in the NL, is off to a strong early start, going 7-3 through 10 games, including 6-1 on the road. Offense was never the worry with the Rockies, but its been cruising and healthy and the team's gotten tremendous contributions from its pitching. All-Star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki is impressed with the play and demeanor of the club. "Off the field, the questions (the younger players) come up to me (with) in the locker room and talk to me about or when they text me at night, those questions are impressive for some young kids," Tulowitzki said. "Those questions aren't about, 'How do I become a better player myself?' It's, 'How do we win around here?'"

De La Rosa debut near. The Rockies enter Saturday with a pristine 2.90 ERA - 3.52 as a rotation - and have done it without their best pitcher Jorge De La Rosa, who has missed his first two turns through the rotation. But De La Rosa is set to make his debut Monday at Coors Field against the Padres. "I feel good. I'm ready and excited to get started," De La Rosa said earlier in the week. The left-hander led the team in wins (14), ERA (4.10) and strikeouts (139) in 2014. 

Los Angeles Dodgers

Hampered hamstring. Dodgers star Yasiel Puig has missed the team's last three games with a left hamstring injury. The possibility of a trip to the disabled list has been brought up, but manager Don Mattingly is confident he'll have Puig back soon. "I don't feel like it's that serious," Mattingly said Friday. "I watched him and it seemed like he ran pretty good, but obviously he's still feeling a little something and that's where the hamstring always is tricky."

Kershaw battling. Clayton Kershaw has 26 strikeouts over three starts and 18 1/3 innings. But he also has a 4.42 ERA, allowing at least three runs in all of his outings. The swing-and-miss stuff is there and Kershaw will surely be fine, but this constitutes a slump for the reigning NL MVP. "I still think Clayton's searching. He's probably totally not happy with what's going on," Mattingly said. "He doesn't quite seem like himself yet. I don't think he's hit his groove yet."

San Diego Padres

Kennedy on comeback. The Padres' deep rotation is going to be even better in no time. Right-hander Ian Kennedy, out with a hamstring strain, tossed a bullpen session Friday and is slated to throw 75-90 pitches Monday in extended spring training. He lasted 2 1/3 innings in his season debut before exiting with the injury. If all goes well, Kennedy could be activated off the disabled list April 25. "With hamstrings, you never really know how significant they are," manager Bud Black said. "Ian felt good about it. Medical staff felt good about the degree of the strain, and we felt as though it was going to be short-term."

Improved throwing. The Padres are happy with catcher Derek Norris' arm. And he's trying to move past last postseason's debacle against the Royals. Kansas City swiped six bases on him while he was member of the Athletics in the AL wild card play-in game, running its way to victory and an eventual World Series appearance. Norris has already thrown out six runners this season, half his total from 2014. "This guy is athletic. The agility, the body control, the coordination, the athletic movements, he has them. He has quick feet and good hands. His release times are fine," Black said. "He's been pretty accurate so far this year. There have been a couple of good runners he's thrown out. On balance, the throwing, we're very happy with. He's been good."

San Francisco Giants

Pence progressing. The Phillies are the only NL team the Giants have outscored entering play Saturday. But help is slowly on the way. Hunter Pence has been swinging a whiffle bat and took some light swings with a fungo earlier in the week. The next step would be a rehab assignment, but there's no timetable for his return. Pence hit 20 homers with a .777 OPS and team-leading 180 hits in 2014. 

Champs reeling. San Francisco has started off with a 3-9 mark, sitting last place in the NL West. Its losing streak ran to eight games after falling to the Diamondbacks on Friday. "I wish we had a magic wand to wave right now, but we don't," manager Bruce Bochy said.