What Shelby Miller’s injury means for Archie Bradley, Diamondbacks rotation

Archie Bradley mentioned last week how his teammates give him a hard time – his phrase, to be exact, was that “they give me heck” – because despite his switch to a relief role he still acted like he was in the rotation, continuing to pal around with the starters before and after games.

“I think that’s always going to be in me,” Bradley said.

Bradley’s role has been a topic of conversation throughout the season’s first few weeks, but the debate has taken on heightened meaning over the past 48 hours, following the elbow injury that landed right-hander Shelby Miller on the disabled list on Monday afternoon.

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Before, the question was whether Bradley should have a more significant role in the Diamondbacks’ bullpen hierarchy. Now, it’s whether Bradley should even remain in the bullpen at all — or if he should return to his old job, taking the spot Miller vacated.

Manager Torey Lovullo said the Diamondbacks are keeping their options open. Bradley is clearly one of them. Another is right-hander Zack Godley, who was held back from making his scheduled start in Triple-A Reno on Monday night. Since Miller’s turn isn’t until Friday, it would seem any of their other starters in Reno could be possibilities, as well.

Bradley, on the surface, would appear to be the most logical choice. He was shifted to the bullpen in the first place only because there was no room for him in the big league rotation, with team officials insisting late in spring training that they continued to view him as a starter in the long term.

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He’s also thrown better than anyone, giving up just one run through 11 1/3 innings. His stuff is far better than it was in previous years – his average fastball velocity of 96.14 mph is nearly three miles an hour up from the past two seasons, according to BrooksBaseball – suggesting he has the raw weapons to pitch much more effectively as a starter than he has in the past.

(It’s worth noting that Bradley’s velocity spike isn’t purely the result of the role change. He was averaging 95-96 mph during February and March, as well, during which time he still was being used predominantly as a starter.)

Count Bradley among those intrigued by the possibility of what he could do as a starter with his rediscovered velocity.

BOX SCORE: Diamondbacks 7, Padres 6

“I think obviously I’d have to change a little bit” about the way he pitches, Bradley said, “but the way I’m throwing the ball I’m not going to change too much. I’m definitely excited to see what would happen. (But) as for now, I’m in the bullpen and that’s where we’re at.”

And there are some logical reasons why the club might want to keep him there. For one, Bradley is having success, something he hadn’t always had in the past at the big league level. Lovullo acknowledged there has been some internal consideration to the notion of not messing with a good thing.

There are also some around the game who believe the bullpen is where Bradley has always fit best; it’s where, they say, his power repertoire gives him the best chance to succeed, a role in which whatever shortcomings he might have in terms of command or consistency with certain secondary pitches can more easily be overcome. As a reliever, he doesn’t have to worry about facing a hitter multiple times, doesn’t have to conserve energy for the later innings.

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There’s also the argument of the value Bradley provides out of the bullpen – value more and more teams seem willing to exploit these days. There seems to be a growing number of versatile relievers capable of turning in multi-inning outings at various points in games; clubs like the Cincinnati Reds (Raisel Iglesias, Michael Lorenzen) and Houston Astros (Chris Devenski) have benefitted from them the past couple of seasons. If they wanted, the Diamondbacks could try to get 100 relief innings out of Bradley like the Astros did last year with Devenski.

And that’s not to mention the hole Bradley’s departure from the bullpen would create.

A shorter-term concern could be Bradley’s pitch count. He hasn’t topped 39 pitches since April 4, so there could be some trepidation in sending him back out as starter right away. That concern could be overcome by gradually building him back up, by scheduling extended relief outings over the next week or two, before plugging him back in as a starter.

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But there’s little doubt the rotation is where Bradley would provide the most long-term value to the organization if he were able to carry over even some percentage of the stuff/success he’s had in a relief role. The question, perhaps, is whether the club truly believes that’s where Bradley’s future ought to be.

On Monday night, Lovullo said the Diamondbacks were still kicking around thoughts. He said the club’s decision-makers will continue to discuss scenarios, and that they probably won’t decide until after Tuesday night’s game at the earliest.

“We haven’t made a decision yet,” Lovullo said. “I’m going to walk in there tonight and we’ll probably have another conversation tomorrow. We’ll try to piece some thoughts together as far as what direction we’re going to go.”

Bradley is eager to find out, but he said he understands why it might not an easy decision.

“I can see it either way,” Bradley said. “That’s why they make those decisions. I just kind of do what they tell me.”

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Tuesday’s game

Padres at Diamondbacks

When: 6:40 p.m.

Where: Chase Field.

Pitchers: Diamondbacks LHP Patrick Corbin (1-3, 3.27) vs. Padres LHP Clayton Richard (2-2, 3.04).

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

This is back-to-back starts against the Padres for Corbin, who took the loss last Thursday after giving up three runs in six innings; he has a 2.77 ERA over his last six starts against San Diego. … Corbin has allowed three runs or less in each of his four starts. … He won his last start at home, tossing six scoreless innings against the Indians. … Richard was solid his last time out against the Diamondbacks, limiting them to one run on nine hits through 6 2/3 innings; he’s pitched six innings or more in each of his four starts. … He’s also induced six double plays in that span. … Richard has a 3.77 ERA in his career against Arizona but has a 5.20 ERA at Chase Field.

Coming up

Wednesday: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Taijuan Walker (2-1, 4.57) vs. Padres RHP Trevor Cahill (1-2, 3.44).

Thursday: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks LHP Robbie Ray (2-0, 3.42) vs. Padres RHP Jered Weaver (0-1, 3.91).

Friday: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks TBA vs. Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (2-1, 3.32).

Reach Piecoro at (602) 444-8680 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @nickpiecoro.