Diamondbacks at Dodgers: Lovullo sticking with Rodney

Editor’s note: We are with the Arizona Diamondbacks every game this season and will have you covered here from starting lineups to the last word from the clubhouse. This is your home for D-Backs game day news and analysis.

Lovullo stands behind Rodney as closer

Manager Torey Lovullo says he’d have “zero hesitation” going to Fernando Rodney in a save situation despite some early-season struggles for the Diamondbacks’ closer.

“None whatsoever,” Lovullo said.

Certainly, if Lovullo were to make a change, it would be a very quick hook, particularly considering Rodney is 3-for-3 in save conversions so far. However, Rodney has allowed seven runs (six earned) in 4 1/3 innings. He’s also had a sea of baserunners, with seven hits and four walks allowed.

On Saturday night, Rodney gave up a three-run homer to Yasiel Puig in a non-save situation, an appearance he and Lovullo had coordinated before the game as a way to stay sharp.

“I was just want to keep warming up,” Rodney said on Sunday morning. “Sometimes you have four or five days where you don’t pitch and you don’t feel the same. That’s why I pitched last night.”

Asked what he’s seen thus far out of Rodney’s appearances, Lovullo said, “He’s had some really, really easy moments. Clean, easy moments where his innings have been quick and Fernando Rodney-like. And then yesterday (Saturday night) unfortunately there was a little bit of a hiccup.”

Well, kind of. Only one, or perhaps two, of Rodney’s five outings could reasonably be considered “really, really easy.”

And the definition of a “Rodney-like” outing might be up for debate. During Rodney’s time with the Mariners, Seattle Times reporter Ryan Divish coined his outings “The Fernando Rodney Experience” because Rodney would routinely walk a tightrope in save situations, often putting the tying run on base and creating drama.

“Overall, I think he’s done exactly what we’ve asked,” Lovullo said. “He’s closed out the games that we’ve needed him to, taken pressure off the rest of the bullpen and made sure he’s anchored down that area.”

Sunday’s game

When: 1:10 p.m.

Where: Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles.

Pitchers: Diamondbacks RHP Taijuan Walker (1-1, 4.91) vs. Dodgers LHP Rich Hill (1-0, 1.80)

TV/Radio: FSAZ/KMVP-FM (98.7), KHOV-FM (105.1).

Sunday game notes:

Walker gave up three runs (two earned) in five-plus innings against the Giants on Monday, with all of the runs scoring on one play in the fourth inning on which Walker and catcher Jeff Mathis were charged with throwing errors. … Walker’s first start was only so-so as well; he gave up four runs in six innings against the Giants at Chase Field. … He’s only faced the Dodgers once in his career, in 2015, in an outing in which he gave up five runs in four innings at Dodger Stadium. … Hill gave up one run in five innings in his first start of the year, then missed his second one due to a blister issue. The plan is for him to come off the disabled list to start on Sunday. … Hill, whom the Dodgers acquired from Oakland at the trade deadline last year, re-signed in December for three years and $48 million. … He faced the Diamondbacks once last season, giving up four runs in 5 1/3 innings in a start at Chase Field.

FROM SATURDAY: Road struggles continue for slumping D-Backs

PITCHING: Archie Bradley’s bullpen role a hot topic for Diamondbacks

Starting lineup:

1. A.J. Pollock CF
2. Chris Owings SS
3. Paul Goldschmidt 1B
4. Jake Lamb 3B
5. Yasmany Tomas LF
6. Brandon Drury 2B
7. David Peralta RF
8. Chris Iannetta C
9. Taijuan Walker P

Coming up

Monday: At Los Angeles, 7:10 p.m., Diamondbacks LHP Robbie Ray (1-0, 2.19) vs. Dodgers RHP Brandon McCarthy (2-0, 1.50).

Tuesday: At San Diego, 7:10 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Shelby Miller (1-1, 5.06) vs. Padres RHP Jared Cosart (0-0, 3.86).

Wednesday: At San Diego, 7:10 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Zack Greinke (1-1, 4.32) vs. Padres RHP Zach Lee (1-0, 0.00).