PHOENIX — As injuries go, it is not particularly threatening. The explanation probably hurt more. Diamondbacks starter Ian Kennedy suffered a small laceration on his right index finger when he cut it on a serrated knife blade while doing the dishes Thursday.
But it will force him to miss his scheduled start in the doubleheader against the Rangers on Monday — the D-backs will recall top prospect Tyler Skaggs to pitch the opener — and it did bring out a degree of sheepishness when Kennedy discussed it Sunday morning.
“There is no cool story to it," Kennedy said. "It is kind of embarrassing. Cleaning a knife. It stinks, because it is something I easily could control."
The D-backs medical personnel have told Kennedy he should be 100 percent by the time his next turn rolls around on Friday, the first game of a three-game series in Chicago against the Cubs.
Kennedy is not the only one in the majors who has suffered such an injury; he is not the only one at Chase Field right now, as Padres right-hander Andrew Cashner suffered a cut on his right thumb in December when he and a hunting partner were cleaning a carcass, forcing Cashner to open the season on the disabled list.
Giants left-hander Jeremy Affeldt suffered a lacerated right hand that caused nerve damage when he cut himself while trying to separate frozen hamburger patties in September 2011, forcing him to miss the rest of the season.
Kennedy could have pitched Monday, had the D-backs chosen to use Super Glue to close the wound, a common treatment, but all involved considered rest the best alternative, especially because major league rules allow a team to add a designated 26th player for a doubleheader.
“They could Super Glue it, but once you do that, it interrupts the healing process,” D-backs manager Kirk Gibson said.
Skaggs, who is 4-5 with a 5.23 ERA at Class AAA Reno, has made three consecutive quality starts with the Aces, going 2-1 with a 2.53 ERA. He had 10 strikeouts and no walks in 7 2/3 innings in his most recent outing, a 6-2 victory over Round Rock, and six of his nine starts at hitter-friendly Reno have been quality starts.
Skaggs made his major league debut in a doubleheader last year, going 6 2/3 innings in a 3-2 victory over the Marlins on Aug. 22. He remained in the rotation until late September, but as the extra pitcher added Monday, he must be returned to the minors after the game.
“His last game, he threw really well. He’s throwing the ball better,” Gibson said.
Trevor Cahill will pitch the second game of the doubleheader, with Brandon McCarthy and Wade Miley scheduled to start in the two-game series in Texas that begins Wednesday.
The D-backs also considered adding Reno left-hander Zeke Spruill and right-hander Charles Brewer before deciding on Skaggs, who will be pitching on his normal four days’ rest.
Kennedy threw his normal bullpen session Saturday with a bandage over the wound, and he said it was a little sensitive when he threw his curveball. He uses a grip in which he bends his finger to deliver the pitch.
“They said maybe throwing 20 pitches and warmup you are fine, but as the game goes on, around 100 or 50 pitches, it is going to break open,” said Kennedy, 2-3 with a 4.70 ERA.
“I thought I would be OK (initially). I knew it was pretty deep. They want to be extra careful. Since we have the extra player, push me back and give it another couple of days to let it heal naturally.”
His takeaway?
“I can’t wash any more knives,” he said.
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