Greinke on the mound as D-Backs start four-game series in Miami

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D-Backs send down Zack Godley in surprise move

In need of a fresh arm after Wednesday’s 14-inning game in Pittsburgh, the Diamondbacks made a surprising decision to option right-hander Zack Godley, who in six starts has thrown as well or better than anyone on their pitching staff.

But Godley had a couple things working against him. For one, the Diamondbacks are in the middle of a long stretch of games, and they asked a lot of their bullpen on Wednesday, needing eight innings of relief in a 6-5 win over the Pirates.

Plus, Godley, unlike several others on the pitching staff, has minor-league options remaining, meaning he does not have to be exposed to waivers if taken off the roster.

“We’ve been running the bullpen pretty hot, and yesterday’s game didn’t help,” Diamondbacks General Manager Mike Hazen said. “I think, unfortunately, the way (Randall) Delgado has been pitching and with Godley having options, we felt like we wanted to take this opportunity to protect the bullpen.”

Hazen said the Diamondbacks’ ability to keep the bullpen fresh for the season’s first two months has been a significant factor in their success.

“He did everything he needed to do to control the situation,” Hazen said. “We respect that and he pitched his butt off. But that was the decision we made today.”

In six starts this season, Godley has a 2.39 ERA. He’s allowed just two home runs and has induced a slew of ground-ball outs. He did not allow more than three runs in any outing and has logged at least six innings in each of his past five starts.

“Unfortunately, it’s part of the game,” Hazen said. “Yeah, we recognize the way he’s pitched and it was factored into the discussion. We’re responsible for the entire 25-man roster and for the entire team being able to perform at the level it needs to perform at. He was a big part of that and will continue to be a big part, but for the time being we had to make that decision today.”

Pitching coach Mike Butcher recalled a similar move during his time as the Los Angeles Angels’ pitching coach involving Jered Weaver, who was pitching well but, as the young guy on the staff, was sent out to make room for a veteran.

“It’s tough,” Butcher said. “You’ve got a guy up here who has been pitching really, really well. He’s done everything that we’ve asked him to do. It’s tough. Nothing is ever easy when you send a guy down that’s pitching well.”

At the moment, there do not appear to be any plans for Godley to rejoin the team. Delgado apparently will stay in the rotation for the time being, and Hazen said the club has not mapped out how it will handle an upcoming stretch in which there are three off days in eight days.

Walker’s status ‘up in the air’ for Sunday start

Right-hander Taijuan Walker’s scheduled bullpen session was pushed back to Friday, an indication he might not be ready to return from the disabled list to pitch on Sunday.

Walker already has missed two starts due to a blister on his right index finger.

“I think the idea was to give him one more day, let him go to the bullpen tomorrow and see how he feels,” manager Torey Lovullo said. “We’ll have more of a thought (tomorrow) as to what’s going to be happening as we move forward to Sunday.”

Said Butcher: “Yeah, I do think it’s up in the air. We’re going to kind of go with it and see where we’re at tomorrow. It’s definitely up in the air.”

Though Sunday would be his regular turn after pitching on Tuesday in Pittsburgh, left-hander Robbie Ray is not an option to start if Walker can’t, Lovullo said.

“I think we pushed Robbie a little bit farther than we normally would have in his last start knowing that he had two extra days rest,” Lovullo said. “We’re not going to change his course. He knew he was going to get that rest. We feel very strongly about him starting Game 1 (against the San Diego Padres) on Tuesday and we’re going to leave it that way.”

Right-hander Braden Shipley could be the choice. He had his scheduled start for Triple-A Reno pushed back.

“We wanted to make sure we kept every option open,” Hazen said.

Thursday’s game

Diamondbacks at Marlins

When: 4:10 p.m.

Where: Marlins Park, Miami.

Pitchers: Diamondbacks RHP Zack Greinke (6-3, 3.24) vs. Marlins LHP Jeff Locke (9-8, 5.44)*.

* — Stats from 2016.

TV/Radio: FSAZ/KTAR-AM (620), KHOV-FM (105.1).

Greinke gave up five runs in 5 1/3 innings against the Brewers on Saturday in Milwaukee. He was hurt by poor defense by LF Yasmany Tomas, who couldn’t catch what looked to be a routine fly ball, a play that led to a big inning for the Brewers. … In seven starts prior to that, Greinke had posted a 2.32 ERA in 50 1/3 innings. … In two starts at Marlins Park in his career, Greinke has given up one run in 15 2/3 innings. … Locke will be making his first start of the season after missing the first two months with left bicep tendinitis. … He had a 5.44 ERA in 127 1/3 innings for the Pirates last season. … He has not thrown well against the Diamondbacks, allowing a 6.57 ERA in 24 2/3 innings.

Thursday’s lineup

Diamondbacks facing a left-handed pitcher so you know the drill: Lamb drops to seventh in the lineup.

‘Signature moments’ piling up for D-Backs this season

On the surface, the Diamondbacks probably would have preferred to depart Pittsburgh after nine innings on Wednesday and before the one-hour, 33-minute rain delay they endured. They’d have rather not experienced the blown save or the reclaiming of the lead, or the next blown save or the subsequent three innings it took to finally score again.

But, as it turned out, not only did they come away with a 6-5 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates in 14 innings at PNC Park, they might also have authored the newest “signature moment” – in the vernacular of manager Torey Lovullo – in a season that already has so many of them they could fill up a scrapbook.

“We had two leads that evaporated quickly, and one of them was heartbreaking. One of them was potentially the last batter of the game,” Lovullo said. “These guys really came together and I think that speaks volumes about what this team has inside of them.”

Pollock still weeks away from potential return

A.J. Pollock continues to make progress from his groin injury, but General Manager Mike Hazen said the Diamondbacks center fielder still could be two weeks away from returning from the disabled list.

“Obviously, we’re going to make sure we do this the right way,” Hazen said. “We want him back as soon as possible but we want to make sure he’s back 100 percent.”

Pollock has resumed light baseball activities, but he’s still a week to 10 days away from beginning a minor league rehab assignment, Hazen said.

He said a return in about two weeks is “a rough estimate of what we’re looking at.”

Unlike a year ago, the Diamondbacks haven’t missed a beat without their former All-Star center fielder. In the 15 games he’s missed entering Wednesday, the Diamondbacks were 11-4, averaging five runs per game.

Coming up

Friday: At Miami, 4:10 p.m., Diamondbacks LHP Patrick Corbin (4-5, 5.14) vs. Marlins RHP Jose Urena (3-2, 3.14).

Saturday: At Miami, 1:10 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Randall Delgado (1-0, 3.47) vs. Marlins RHP Edinson Volquez (1-7, 4.44).

Sunday: At Miami, 10:10 a.m., Diamondbacks RHP Taijuan Walker (4-3, 3.46). vs. Marlins LHP Justin Nicolino (0-1, 4.15).