Zack Greinke breezes through early innings vs. Pirates

The Diamondbacks start a four-game home series with the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday night at 6:40 p.m. Stay with this page for updates and analysis throughout the matchup. 

Greinke breezes through 3 IP vs. Pirates

Zack Greinke’s dominance from last week at Coors Field has carried over to Thursday night against the Pirates, whom he has shut down through three scoreless innings at Chase Field.

Greinke has faced the minimum, with the only baserunner of the night – a walk by Jordy Mercer – erased on a caught-stealing.

Mercer was initially ruled safe at second on his stolen base attempt, but the Diamondbacks successfully challenged the call.

The Diamondbacks grabbed a 1-0 lead in the second on Brandon Drury’s RBI single, which followed a double off the wall by Chris Owings

Hudson happy to return to Phoenix

When he walked into Chase Field on Thursday afternoon, Daniel Hudson swears he didn’t even think about popping his head into the Diamondbacks’ clubhouse.

“No, I just walked straight by it. No temptation,” he said. “I’ll see those guys on the field, and it’ll definitely be a lot of fun to see those guys.”

Hudson spent the past seven seasons with the Diamondbacks, and although he was open to the idea of re-signing with the club this past offseason, it didn’t happen and he joined the Pirates as a free agent instead. Pittsburgh’s four-game series in Phoenix this weekend gives the right-hander a chance to finally see his wife and kids for the first time in more than a month.

They’ve been at the family’s Valley home since the start of the season and will join Hudson when he and the Pirates return to Pennsylvania following Sunday’s series finale.

“It’s definitely different, coming to the field a little bit later and walking past that other locker room is different, but I’m excited to be home and be back here, see the girls and sleep in my own bed for a couple of days,” Hudson said.

“It took some time to get used to,” he added, referring to changing teams. “Going to Florida for spring training was different as well, and being out there by myself for a while and moving everything to Pittsburgh after that. We got so spoiled here in Arizona, where you do spring training and sleep in your own bed for 280 nights, so it definitely took some time to get used to.”

Hudson said the Pirates have been a good fit for him. He likes the culture of the organization and said his new teammates have been especially welcoming. The Pirates, he added, were interested in him all along and “it’s nice to feel wanted.”

There were discussions about a possible new deal in Arizona, but after a change in management, it never materialized.

“There were discussions,” he said, “… but timing is everything in free agency, and the time frame I was looking at trying to sign they weren’t ready at that point. So it just kind of went from there and they said best of luck and go from there.”

Hudson, who always a popular player in the Diamondbacks’ clubhouse, said he still keeps tab on his former team.

“I root for them to do well, except for this weekend,” he said. “Hopefully we get a couple of these games, but yeah, I do it every night. When we get done with our game on the East Coast, the first thing I do is pick up my phone and see how the Diamondbacks are doing. I enjoy following them. They’re having a good season so far and it’s been fun to watch.”

Why the wait?

Though he’s pitched brilliantly in his two audition starts for the vacant fifth starting job in the team’s rotation, Zack Godley has yet to be officially rewarded with the gig.

“We’re still discussing that, still working through what will happen with his next turn, but whatever it is, we want to make sure that spot will give us the best chance to win a game,” manager Torey Lovullo said. “We want to obviously make a decision as soon as possible. We want to make sure it’s the right decision. And he’s done everything he possibly can to make sure he’s the guy for the next time.

“Those are the obvious factors, but there’s some other things we have to consider as well.”

Lovullo wouldn’t go into any specifics when asked what else the Diamondbacks are considering, although it could be they still have interest in veteran free agent Doug Fister. For now, however, the team is keeping its options open.

“I think everybody wants that stability from both sides,” Lovullo said. “The players, they want it. They want to know they’re going to be that guy and be counted on. And we want to know what those expectations are with who we’re sending out there every fifth day. We want to have as much stability as possible.

“We’re not looking to reinvent the wheel or be so creative that we can’t give up what’s going to happen. But for the time being right now, we’re still discussing some of our options.”

Tomas gets a day

Though he was hitting .313 against right-handed pitching, Yasmany Tomas was not in Lovullo’s starting lineup Thursday night against righty Gerrit Cole. Instead, Lovullo went with Daniel Descalso as his starting left fielder.

“I wanted to give Daniel a chance to play; he hasn’t played in several days,” Lovullo said. “… I just like the idea of having a left-handed bat in there. Nothing against Yas, he’s been swinging the bat pretty well and he hit a big home run last night. It was just about somebody on the bench getting a chance to play and help us win a ballgame.”

Manager comments

Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo met with reporters Thursday during his pregame news conference and here are a few of the highlights:

Lack of offense from the catchers: Arizona’s catcher trio of Jeff Mathis, Chris Iannetta and Chris Herrmann have combined to hit just .170 with four doubles, five home runs and 14 RBIs. Lovvullo said the lack of offense out of the position is not a concern – as of yet.

“It’s of minimal concern for me right now,” he said, “and probably the reason why I’m leaning in that direction is because out pitchers have done so well and they are kind of leading the way here, leading the charge for the success that we’ve had for the first six weeks of the season.

“… The catchers all know they’re not having tremendous offensive moments, but I think they’re doing enough to say, ‘Look, we’re winning our share of games and our offense is going to come in time,’ and I believe that. I believe we’re not seeing the best of any of our guys, offensively, but there’s a process that we follow here. We know that it’s a long haul … and over that long haul I’m sure it’s going to balance itself out.”

Lineup

Jeff Mathis is behind the plate to catch Zack Greinke as the Diamondbacks open up a home series against the Pirates. The Diamondbacks are set to wear their throwback, teal and purple uniforms as part of the team’s “Throwback Thursdays.” 

The full lineup:

Thursday’s game

Pirates at Diamondbacks

When: 6:40 p.m.

Where: Chase Field (Roof hotline: 602-462-6262).

Pitchers: Diamondbacks RHP Zack Greinke (3-2, 3.09) vs. Pirates RHP Gerrit Cole (1-3, 3.14 ERA).

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

Greinke has turned in four consecutive quality starts and is coming off a win, giving up just two runs in seven innings last Friday against the Rockies. … Over his last three starts, Greinke has struck out 27. … In four home starts, he’s 2-0 with a 2.66 ERA; Greinke is 6-3 with a 5.04 ERA in 10 career starts against the Pirates. … Cole has settled into a rhythm after giving up five runs in his season debut; he boasts a 2.37 ERA through six starts since that game. … His last time out, Cole gave up just one run off two hits through seven innings while striking out eight. … He’s struck out that many in three of his last four appearances.

Coming up

Friday: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks LHP Patrick Corbin (2-4, 3.89) vs. Pirates RHP Tyler Glasnow (1-2, 6.33).

Saturday: At Chase Field, 5:10 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Taijuan Walker (3-2, 3.83) vs. Pirates RHP Trevor Williams (1-2, 7.98).

Sunday: At Chase Field, 1:10 p.m., Diamondbacks LHP Robbie Ray (2-3, 4.14) vs. Pirates RHP Ivan Nova (3-3, 2.23).

Up next: Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pirates are in the midst of a seven-game road trip that started in Los Angeles. Entering their finale against the Dodgers Wednesday, they had dropped three straight and five of their past seven. Most of their struggles have come on the road, and the team sits last in the NL Central. This is a young Pittsburgh team that has been regularly been in flux to start the season. Outfielder Starling Marte is serving an 80-game suspension after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance. The Pirates are also without second baseman Adam Frazier (hamstring strain), third baseman David Freese (hamstring strain) and right-hander Jameson Taillon, who recently underwent surgery for suspected testicular cancer. Freese, who hasn’t played since April 24, still leads regulars on the team in a number of offensive categories including average (.321). Outfielder Andrew McCutchen was hitting .222 entering Wednesday’s game with five home runs and 15 RBIs. Pittsburgh’s 121 runs were second-fewest in the National League. The team’s 3.98 ERA ranked fifth.