Zack Godley welcomes opportunity to start for Diamondbacks

Right-hander Zack Godley has made three appearances this season, and none have been like the others.

He debuted with Triple-A Reno by coming on in relief during the first inning.

His second outing was also considered mop-up duty, as he took to the mound after snow in Reno suspended action until the next day, a first for Godley that he enjoyed because as a duck hunter, he said, he thrives in poor weather conditions.

“I was actually in the clubhouse, and I kept going back out and forth just to see the snow,” Godley said.

Game No. 3 was an official start, and so will his fourth look of the season, but it, too, will be unlike its predecessors. Godley will start Wednesday for the Diamondbacks against the Padres at Chase Field.

“I’m just going to go out and take advantage of the opportunity I have,” he said.

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Arizona reconfigured its rotation as it waits for more information on right-hander Shelby Miller’s elbow, with Miller receiving a second opinion Tuesday in Los Angeles by Dr. Neal ElAttrache. Miller underwent an MRI on Monday, which revealed inflammation, and conferred with team physician Dr. Gary Waslewski.

Instead of naming a starter for Friday’s game, which was supposed to be Miller’s next appearance, the Diamondbacks wanted Godley to pitch Wednesday since they didn’t want him to go too long between games. Godley’s most recent start was last Wednesday; he was scheduled to pitch Monday but was scratched.

As a result of this change, right-hander Taijuan Walker and lefty Robbie Ray have each been pushed back a day, with Walker taking the mound Thursday and Ray opening the series against the Rockies Friday.

“It just seemed like the right thing to do,” manager Torey Lovullo said.

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Godley was tabbed for this game amid a strong recommendation from the organization’s player development staff. Lovullo said the team hasn’t planned beyond Miller’s initial missed start.

“There were some very good candidates that were throwing the ball in Reno,” Lovullo said. “But we trust and believe in their eyes, and that was their recommendation. He threw the ball very well at the tail end of spring training, and he left a very positive impression on myself and the rest of the staff.”

During his last start, Godley cruised – giving up just one hit and striking out seven through seven scoreless innings. His location was key, he said, as he had strong command of all of his pitches.

Overall, Godley is 10-5 with a 5.34 ERA in 36 major-league games over the last two seasons, with 15 of those starts.

“It’s the kind of start you want every time you go out on the mound regardless of whether it’s down there, up here, the time before you come up here, the time after you go back down there, the time you get up here,” Godley said. “That’s the start you want every time you go out. Giving up one hit through seven innings, that’s about as ideal as you can possibly imagine.”

Elsewhere in the pipeline

Asked what the feedback was on fellow minor-league pitchers Braden Shipley and Anthony Banda, Lovullo said: “They’re throwing the ball OK, not as good as Godley was. That they’re repeating pitches, probably not executing a game plan right now at this point in time.”

Bracho rebounds

Right-hander Silvino Bracho had a rough season debut for the Diamondbacks Monday, on the mound for four runs (three earned) after getting recalled from Triple-A Reno earlier in the day.

But he didn’t have to wait long to get another chance.

Bracho pitched a scoreless ninth Tuesday in the 9-3 win over the Padres, retiring the side in order as fans cheered his name.

“They gave the opportunity to me again, so I just tried to do my best,” Bracho said.

In the seventh Monday, Bracho faced five batters and recorded just one out. After an inning-opening walk, the Padres’ Erick Aybar reached on a fielding error by first baseman Chris Herrmann.

Later in the inning, one run scored after a force out and then a three-run homer to left by Wil Myers moved San Diego within 2 after the team trailed 7-1 when the inning began. Arizona ended up winning 7-6.

“Bad luck yesterday,” Bracho said. ” it’s not bad day because we won. Just bad luck for you. Today’s another day, and you have to improve out there so that’s what I did today.” 

On Tuesday, Bracho struck out Manuel Margot, got Cory Spangenberg to fly out and then also struck out Myers.

“It was a great effort by him,” Lovullo said. “I know yesterday was a tough day for him. He didn’t throw the way he wanted to, and to get somebody back out there after that is important to me and I wanted to see what he could do and he threw the ball very, very well.” 

After the game, Bracho was optioned back to Reno – a move that opens up a roster spot for right-hander Zack Godley to start Wednesday. Bracho said he knew he was going to be with the team for only a few days and after rebounding Tuesday, he returns to Reno feeling encouraged.

“When they give me opportunity again,” he said, “I’m going to be here to do my best.”

Wednesday’s game

Padres at Diamondbacks

When: 6:40 p.m.

Where: Chase Field.

Pitchers: Diamondbacks RHP Zack Godley (first start) vs. Padres RHP Trevor Cahill (1-2, 3.44).

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

Godley has been inserted into the starting rotation in place of Shelby Miller. Godley was 1-1 with a 2.55 ERA for Triple-A Reno. In 17 2/3 innings he had struck out 15 batters and walked nine. Godley made 27 appearances for the Diamondbacks in 2016, going 5-4 with a 6.39 ERA. Cahill was brilliant his last time out, holding the Miami Marlins to three hits and one earned run in seven innings. He has a surprisingly high 21 strikeouts in 18 1/3 innings.

Coming up

Thursday: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Taijuan Walker (2-1, 4.57) vs. Padres RHP Jered Weaver (0-1, 3.91).

Friday: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks LHP Robbie Ray (2-0, 3.42) vs. Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (2-1, 3.32).

Saturday: At Chase Field, 5:10 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Zack Greinke (2-2, 2.93) vs. Rockies LHP Tyler Anderson (1-3, 7.11).