Dodgers rout Diamondbacks, 14-3, as another pitcher is injured and trade deadline looms

The Dodgers did not make a trade on Sunday, but the clubhouse was abuzz with possibilities.

In one corner, where several players stared intently at their phones, one noted aloud that the Cincinnati Reds’ lineup did not include outfielder Jay Bruce, a target of the Dodgers. In another corner, three players discussed with admiration how the New York Yankees had gotten great returns for pitchers Aroldis Chapman and Andrew Miller and still could bring back Chapman as a free agent this winter.

And, with two of the Dodgers’ top prospects out of the lineup at double-A Sunday, were the Dodgers minutes from making a move?

Whatever move the Dodgers make apparently will come down to the final hours preceding Monday’s 1 p.m. trade deadline. The Dodgers’ search for starting pitching took on additional urgency Sunday, when Bud Norris left the game in the first inning because of a strained lat muscle.

The Dodgers nonetheless overmatched the Arizona Diamondbacks, with Ross Stripling leading a parade of six relievers who combined on a three-hitter in a 14-3 rout. Yasmani Grandal and Corey Seager launched three-run home runs and Joc Pederson added a two-run shot, with the Dodgers collecting 17 hits in all. The Dodgers remained two games behind the San Francisco Giants in the National League West.

For now, the Dodgers have three healthy starting pitchers: Scott Kazmir, Kenta Maeda and Brandon McCarthy. They have used 12 starters already this season. They used 16 last season, the most in the majors.

The Dodgers are engaged in talks with the Tampa Bay Rays about pitchers Chris Archer and Matt Moore. They also have had discussions with the Oakland Athletics about pitcher Rich Hill (and outfielder Josh Reddick) and with the Chicago White Sox about pitcher Chris Sale.

The Dodgers expect Brett Anderson to make two more minor league rehabilitation starts and rejoin the rotation thereafter. Stripling, the rookie who made eight starts earlier this season, replaced Norris in the first inning Sunday and pitched 3 2/3 innings.

Never had Stripling rushed into a game to replace an injured starter.

“Check that off my baseball bucket list,” he said.

On Sunday, Norris walked the game’s first batter on seven pitches, reaching for his back after the last pitch. Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts scurried to the mound with an athletic trainer, but Norris stayed in after throwing warmup pitches.

The game’s second batter popped up on the sixth pitch Norris threw him, and again he reached for his back after the last pitch. That would be all for him, at least on this day, and the bullpen recorded all but one out.

Norris described the discomfort as “an achy, dead pain” in the middle of his back, behind the right shoulder. Roberts said he expected Norris to make his next start, although Norris said he would not know if he could do so until he sees if he can complete a bullpen session this week.

The Dodgers, shut out for the first three innings, erased a 3-0 deficit by scoring 14 unanswered runs over the next five innings. They finished 15-9 in July, overcoming the injury to ace Clayton Kershaw by producing the most runs they have scored in any month this season, even though they played the fewest games.

“The baseball cards are starting to line up with their numbers,” Roberts said.

The team bus pulls out of Dodger Stadium at 2:30 p.m. on Monday, with a roster-changing trade possible in the meantime. With pressure on the Dodgers’ front office to make a deal, Roberts said he expected his players to follow developments closely.

“I think they’ll be all over their phones and following every single tweet,” Roberts said. “That’s just human nature.”

bill.shaikin@latimes.com

Twitter: @BillShaikin