Torey Lovullo sticking with starters

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Lovullo trying to show trust in starters

After Diamondbacks left-hander Patrick Corbin gave up three early runs on Saturday night, he found himself in more trouble in the third and fourth innings. But not only did manager Torey Lovullo stick with Corbin through those jams, he didn’t even have a reliever warming in the bullpen during them.

That is not a coincidence, Lovullo said.

“A lot of the conversation I had with (starting pitchers) in spring training is that they felt like at times in the past they weren’t able to express themselves,” Lovullo said. “For me, the starting pitcher sets the tone and we need them to work to deep into games, otherwise our bullpen is going to be tired by the middle of the season.”

Several pitchers on the Diamondbacks staff said last year that they were frustrated with how the coaching staff was quick to get relievers warming at the first sign of trouble. Corbin himself told reporters in June that “you just want some trust in you.” In July, right-hander Josh Collmenter said, “It seemed like there was always, not an eagerness, but a quickness to go to the bullpen.”

Lovullo is taking a different approach.

“I know some of the feedback I got from these guys is they want the baseball for as long as they can take it,” he said. “There are going to be times when the score and their pitch count may or may not come into the game plan, but I want them to know that they’re there to get 21 outs, and until that time comes we’re really not going to make a panic decision or a quick decision.”

It’s early, but so far Diamondbacks starters are averaging 5.5 innings per start, the same average as last year’s rotation over a full season. The early results have been far better, however, with this year’s rotation owning a 3.64 ERA. Last year’s rotation had a 5.19 ERA.

Walker update

Lovullo’s comments about his starters’ leash came after he explained his quick hook for Taijuan Walker on Sunday, a decision that was made, in part, because Walker was dealing with lower back tightness.

Lovullo said he doesn’t expect the issue to prevent Walker from making his next start, scheduled for Friday at Chase Field vs. the Dodgers.

“I think he’s going to be just fine in five days,” Lovullo said.

Walker said the problem with his back first popped up two starts ago, when he took an aggressive swing at the plate. He made sure the swings he took on Sunday were more under control.

Off day looming

Second baseman Brandon Drury was the latest everyday player to find himself out of the starting lineup. Lovullo said it’s just the most recent player getting a scheduled day of rest in hopes of keeping him fresh for the season.

That leaves just one player who has started every game: first baseman Paul Goldschmidt.

“It’s going to happen sooner or later,” Lovullo said. “I’m very reluctant to give guys days off, but it means guys that don’t play every day can get in there and show what they can do. That’s what a team does. You’re 25 deep and the bench players are just as important.”

Lovullo wouldn’t say when Goldschmidt will sit, but he said that “he’ll be on the ground floor of that decision.”

Starting lineup

1. A.J. Pollock CF

2. David Peralta RF

3. Paul Goldschmidt 1B

4. Jake Lamb 3B

5. Yasmany Tomas LF

6. Daniel Descalso 2B

7. Chris Owings SS

8. Jeff Mathis C

9. Robbie Ray P

MORE PREGAME READING: Study: Chase Field humidor could ‘significantly’ reduce home runs

Monday’s game

When: 7:10 p.m.

Where: Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles.

Pitchers: Diamondbacks LHP Robbie Ray (1-0, 2.19) vs. Dodgers RHP Brandon McCarthy (2-0, 1.50).

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

From Sunday:D-Backs sharp as Walker, bullpen shut down Dodgers

Game notes

Ray walked five batters against the Giants last week at AT&T Park, but he managed to work around them, tossing 6 2/3 shutout innings in a 4-3 win. … This will be Ray’s first start against a team other than the Giants. He’s had success against the Dodgers, posting a 2.96 ERA in eight career starts against them, including a 2.52 ERA in four starts at Dodger Stadium. … McCarthy gave up two runs in six innings against the Padres in his first start of the year and followed that with six scoreless against the Cubs at Wrigley Field last week. … According to Pitch-f/x data, McCarthy is throwing more cut fastballs this season than he did the previous two years, using the pitch 17.8 percent of the time. … A former Diamondbacks pitcher, he has faced his old team only once in his career, an outing that came last season. He threw six scoreless innings with no walks and eight strikeouts in a start at Chase Field.

The season’s still young, but…

• The Diamondbacks’ 63 runs were the most in the majors entering Monday’s games, ahead of the Reds (62), Rangers (62) and Mets (61).
• Diamondbacks pitchers have limited the opposition to a .221 on-base pct. when leading off an inning, the best mark in the majors entering Monday, ahead of the Yankees (.231), Red Sox (.241) and Dodgers (..254). 
• Tonight’s Arizona starter, Robbie Ray, is the only qualified NL pitcher to not allow a hit to the first batter of an inning (0-for-12) and has issued one walk (.077 on-base pct.), the best OBP in the NL and second-best in the majors behing Boston’s Chris Sale, (.045).  
• Triple-A Reno 1B Christian Walker was named Pacific Coast League Player of the Week, batting .348 (16-for-46) with four home runs, four doubles and 16 RBIs in 11 games.
• Double-A Jackson INF Colin Walsh was named Southern League Player of the Week, hitting .371 (13-for-35) over nine games with two home runs and seven doubles. 

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

Wednesday: At San Diego, 7:10 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Zack Greinke (1-1, 4.32) vs. Padres RHP Jhoulys Chacin (1-2, 7.80).

Thursday: At San Diego, 6:10 p.m., Diamondbacks LHP Patrick Corbin (1-2, 2.81) vs. Padres LHP Clayton Richard (1-2, 3.60).