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Jackson set to begin rehab assignment

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By Steve Gilbert / MLB.com

08/11/09 12:47 AM ET

PHOENIX -- While his teammates prepare to take on the Mets in the second game of a three-game set at Chase Field on Tuesday night, Conor Jackson will take the first step in his road back to the lineup.

Jackson will begin an injury rehabilitation assignment with Class A Visalia, where he will serve as the designated hitter Tuesday and Wednesday before taking a day off and then playing left field.

The last time Jackson appeared in a big league game was May 11. The 27-year-old was diagnosed with valley fever not long after that, an illness that left him so weak at some points it was a chore just to get out of bed in the morning. Recently, though, Jackson has regained some strength and stamina and has been able to participate in drills on the field on consecutive days.

"This is not something I would wish on anyone," Jackson said. "I feel for guys that have to go on the DL for a long time. It's not fun. This certainly puts things into perspective for me when it comes to my health."

Jackson was hitting just .182 with one homer and 14 RBIs when he went on the DL. He knows that he will have to compete for playing time when he comes back.

"I want to show this team that I can be the player they expected me to be," Jackson said. "I know nothing is going to be handed to me."

Pitching matchup
ARI: RHP Max Scherzer (6-6, 4.01 ERA)
Scherzer has struggled in his past two outings, but offensive support has helped him avoid losses and instead come away with no-decisions in those games. His last time out against the Pirates he held them to two runs through the first five innings before the Pirates scored three off him as part of a four-run sixth that chased him from the game. Over his past two outings, he has allowed nine runs in 9 1/3 innings. It's quite a contrast to his start prior to that stretch, which also came against the Pirates on July 26. In that game, he held the Bucs scoreless for seven innings while striking out eight.

NYM: RHP Livan Hernandez (7-6, 5.08 ERA)
Sometimes Hernandez gets past his first-inning troubles. Sometimes he compounds them in subsequent innings. In his most recent start, Thursday against the challenged Padres, he allowed two runs in the first inning, four in the third and a seventh before his five-inning workday was complete. He allowed eight hits, four walks, and each of the walks begat a run. Now he faces the D-backs, the team that beat him at Citi Field on July 31. He allowed two runs in six innings. He has split two decisions against them since the beginning of the 2006 season. Hernandez beat the D-backs in the Metrodome as a member of the Twins on June 22 last year, allowing one earned run -- three overall -- and nine hits in seven innings. He has a 10-7 record in 19 career starts against them, but most of the personnel he faced is gone now.

Tidbits
Outfielder Eric Byrnes (broken left hand) should also start a rehab assignment soon. Byrnes took batting practice Sunday and Monday, and as soon as the club feels his hand is strong enough to hit daily he will start his assignment. ... Gerardo Parra likely will get most of the playing time in center field with Chris Young being demoted to Triple-A. ... The addition of Rusty Ryal to the 40-man roster brings the D-backs up to the limit. They were at 38 before adding Trent Oeltjen last week and Ryal on Monday. ... Ryal was hitting .290 with 33 doubles, six triples and 17 homers for Triple-A Reno. ... The D-backs announced that they officially signed right-hander Daniel Cabrera to a Minor League deal. Cabrera and the club had agreed to contract terms last week. Cabrera will report to Triple-A Reno.

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Up next
• Wednesday: D-backs (Jon Garland, 6-10, 4.33) vs. Mets (Oliver Perez, 2-3, 6.38), 12:40 p.m. MST
• Thursday: Off-day
• Friday: D-backs (Dan Haren, 11-7, 2.57) vs. Dodgers (Clayton Kershaw, 8-6, 2.73), 6:40 p.m. MST

Steve Gilbert is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.