Diamondbacks left-hander T.J. McFarland has been shut down for the remainder of the season, manager Torey Lovullo announced Tuesday.

“He has some inflammation around that bone spur, and we just felt like the risk did not match the reward,” Lovullo said.

McFarland’s last outing was Sept. 8. A bone spur on his left elbow was beginning to swell, and the Diamondbacks wanted to avoid the swelling spreading, potentially infecting ligaments, according to Lovullo. 

“I don’t think he’s going to require a procedure right now, and that’s what we’re trying to avoid,” Lovullo said. “Without pitching in several weeks, we feel like he’ll heal completely, and that swelling will go away and it won’t return – at least, that’s what I was told.”

McFarland finishes the 2018 season with an ERA of 2.00 in 72 innings pitched, his best ERA in his six-year career. The only season he pitched more was his rookie year in 2013 with the Orioles, when he threw for 74 2/3 innings. 

As McFarland and the Diamondbacks waited for an exact diagnosis, he had to watch the team drop seven of its past nine.

“This isn’t the first time I’ve ever gotten hurt or not known what’s going on, so I kind of know what (the process) is, but the timing of it, with the playoff race and the pennant race, is what makes it tough,” McFarland said. 

“Especially because the team, we’re trying to win every game here, and I want to help in any way I can. So not knowing is kind of the worst part of it all, and not pitching is another horrible part.”

McFarland was originally scheduled to throw a bullpen either Sunday or Monday, before the Diamondbacks made the decision to shut him down. 

“In typical T.J. fashion, he wanted the baseball and he said he was ready and could pitch, and all signs inside of what he was thinking were saying he was ready to go,” Lovullo said.

“But some things have to be taken out the player’s hands, and in this case, we felt like we had a very good decision for him and his future, and that’s what we’re always aiming for.”

Miller still out; D-Backs not ready to use openers

Right-hander Shelby Miller threw a 37-pitch bullpen on Tuesday. Lovullo said it went well, but that they will need to see one more bullpen out of Miller before deciding anything further.

“He’s going to throw another bullpen,” Lovullo said. “I know you guys want to know what the timeline is – I don’t know what will happen beyond the next bullpen.”

Miller started just four games before discomfort in his surgically repaired right elbow sidelined him again. His last game was July 11.

Miller’s status is still up in the air, but Lovullo liked what he saw on Tuesday.

“It looked good,” Lovullo said. “I watched several of the pitches and he looked very, very good. The ball was coming out very hot. The breaking ball looks good, and he said he felt good, so it was an encouraging sign.”

While injuries have plagued the bullpen and forced the Diamondbacks to mix up their rotation, Lovullo says the team still won’t use a reliever to open the game before handing off to a pitcher who’d typically fill a starting position. The conversations have increased since Clay Buchholz’s injury.

“If it’s going to give us an edge to win a game, or if it’s something that we feel is going to help us get through that part of the lineup to give us a push to get that starter through an extra portion of the lineup, we will absolutely consider it,” Lovullo said.

“We haven’t gone as far as executing it, but we’ve talked about it every once in awhile.”

Healing up

Following surgery earlier this month on the adductor muscle in his right leg, outfielder Jarrod Dyson said he should be fully healthy for the start of spring training, and he’s hoping he can put what has been a disappointing first season with the Diamondbacks behind him.

“I feel like this year has been a letdown for me and the organization,” Dyson said. “I couldn’t go out there and do what I wanted to do. When I was out there I didn’t play like I wanted to play. I take full responsibility for that.”

After signing a two-year, $7.5 million deal in February, Dyson hit just .189 with a .539 OPS in 206 at-bats this season. He needed surgery last year, too, to repair a core muscle, which he seemed to believe might have played a part in his struggles.

“I felt like I was healthy enough to play, but I really couldn’t feel my body parts and the lower half and what I was doing wrong,” Dyson said. “At the end of the day, it’s my fault. No excuses.”

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