Wed 7/31/24 2:35 PM

McCarthy will start in center field and bat second in Wednesday's game against the Nationals.
EDGE Analysis
Though McCarthy doesn't have a direct path to an everyday role, Arizona has now been able to squeeze him into the lineup for five straight games while giving four days off to Joc Pederson, three to Alek Thomas and one apiece to Corbin Carroll and Lourdes Gurriel during that stretch. All of the absences for Pederson, Thomas and Carroll have come against left-handed pitching, so McCarthy at least looks to be viewed as a short-side bat, even though he's a left-handed hitter himself. McCarthy has helped his case for holding down a semi-regular role by going 9-for-18 with a stolen base, four runs and three RBI over the previous four contests.