• Torey Lovullo after Greinke's loss vs. Royals

    Torey Lovullo after Greinke’s loss vs. Royals

  • Zack Greinke on his outing vs. Royals

    Zack Greinke on his outing vs. Royals

  • J.D. Martinez's on his record-tying home run

    J.D. Martinez’s on his record-tying home run

  • David Peralta on his walk-off walk, J.D. Martinez's hitting

    David Peralta on his walk-off walk, J.D. Martinez’s hitting

  • J.D. Martinez on his hot streak, D-Backs' win over Giants

    J.D. Martinez on his hot streak, D-Backs’ win over Giants

  • Robbie Ray after win vs. Giants

    Robbie Ray after win vs. Giants

  • Zack Godley after loss vs. Giants

    Zack Godley after loss vs. Giants

  • Paul Goldschmidt after D-Backs clinch wild card spot

    Paul Goldschmidt after D-Backs clinch wild card spot

  • D-Backs celebrate walk-off win over Miami

    D-Backs celebrate walk-off win over Miami

  • Diamondbacks celebrate playoff berth

    Diamondbacks celebrate playoff berth

  • Fernando Rodney on his 300th career save

    Fernando Rodney on his 300th career save

  • Chris Iannetta on his 8-RBI night in D-Backs' win

    Chris Iannetta on his 8-RBI night in D-Backs’ win

  • Archie Bradley answers questions from reporters – and J.D. Martinez

    Archie Bradley answers questions from reporters – and J.D. Martinez

  • Torey Lovullo after D-Backs avoid sweep in San Diego

    Torey Lovullo after D-Backs avoid sweep in San Diego

  • Torey Lovullo on recent offensive struggles after loss to Padres

    Torey Lovullo on recent offensive struggles after loss to Padres

  • A.J. Pollock on his two-homer game vs. Padres

    A.J. Pollock on his two-homer game vs. Padres

  • D-Backs' Zack Godley after loss to Padres

    D-Backs’ Zack Godley after loss to Padres

  • Patrick Corbin on mistakes vs. Padres

    Patrick Corbin on mistakes vs. Padres

  • Torey Lovullo on D-Backs' loss to Padres

    Torey Lovullo on D-Backs’ loss to Padres

  • Taijuan Walker on shaky outing vs. Giants

    Taijuan Walker on shaky outing vs. Giants

  • Torey Lovullo after loss to Giants

    Torey Lovullo after loss to Giants

  • Zack Greinke after 2-0 win over Giants

    Zack Greinke after 2-0 win over Giants

  • Torey Lovullo on Greinke's dominant start vs. Giants

    Torey Lovullo on Greinke’s dominant start vs. Giants

  • Robbie Ray after 10-strikeout game vs. Giants

    Robbie Ray after 10-strikeout game vs. Giants

  • Archie Bradley on baseball and beards

    Archie Bradley on baseball and beards

  • Torey Lovullo on Pollock's two-run double, Ray's outing

    Torey Lovullo on Pollock’s two-run double, Ray’s outing

  • Shot Clock: D-Backs' Archie Bradley talks football

    Shot Clock: D-Backs’ Archie Bradley talks football

  • Zack Godley on his outing against the Rockies

    Zack Godley on his outing against the Rockies

  • Torey Lovullo on big win over Rockies

    Torey Lovullo on big win over Rockies

  • Paul Goldschmidt downplays his 1,000th career hit

    Paul Goldschmidt downplays his 1,000th career hit

  • Lovullo discusses his team's win over the Rockies

    Lovullo discusses his team’s win over the Rockies

  • D-Backs' A.J. Pollock on his three-hit night

    D-Backs’ A.J. Pollock on his three-hit night

  • Patrick Corbin on his outing against the Rockies

    Patrick Corbin on his outing against the Rockies

  • Shot Clock: D-Backs stay ahead of Rockies?

    Shot Clock: D-Backs stay ahead of Rockies?

  • Torey Lovullo on loss to Rockies

    Torey Lovullo on loss to Rockies

  • J.D. Martinez following D-Backs' loss to Rockies

    J.D. Martinez following D-Backs’ loss to Rockies

  • Taijuan Walker on his outing against the Rockies

    Taijuan Walker on his outing against the Rockies

  • Diamondbacks' rally falls short against Rockies

    Diamondbacks’ rally falls short against Rockies

  • Robbie Ray on his outing vs. Padres

    Robbie Ray on his outing vs. Padres

  • Manager Torey Lovullo on D-Backs' win, Bradley's save

    Manager Torey Lovullo on D-Backs’ win, Bradley’s save

  • Diamondbacks react to 'tough' loss to Padres

    Diamondbacks react to ‘tough’ loss to Padres

  • Coyotes take batting practice at Chase Field

    Coyotes take batting practice at Chase Field

  • Torey Lovullo on the end of the D-Backs' win streak

    Torey Lovullo on the end of the D-Backs’ win streak

  • Paul Goldschmidt says his elbow is structurally sound

    Paul Goldschmidt says his elbow is structurally sound

  • Zack Greinke after D-Backs' win over Dodgers

    Zack Greinke after D-Backs’ win over Dodgers

  • Torey Lovullo on D-Backs' record-tying 12th consecutive win

    Torey Lovullo on D-Backs’ record-tying 12th consecutive win

  • Shot Clock: JD rocks LA; Cards chase Seattle

    Shot Clock: JD rocks LA; Cards chase Seattle

  • J.D. Martinez on his four-homer night vs. Dodgers

    J.D. Martinez on his four-homer night vs. Dodgers

  • Paul Goldschmidt talks about his sore right elbow

    Paul Goldschmidt talks about his sore right elbow

  • Torey Lovullo on J.D. Martinez's four-homer performance

    Torey Lovullo on J.D. Martinez’s four-homer performance

  • Robbie Ray after striking out career-high 14 vs. Dodgers

    Robbie Ray after striking out career-high 14 vs. Dodgers

  • Torey Lovullo on D-Backs' 10th consecutive win

    Torey Lovullo on D-Backs’ 10th consecutive win

  • Zack Godley on wild yet effective outing vs. Rockies

    Zack Godley on wild yet effective outing vs. Rockies

The Diamondbacks take on the Royals in their penultimate game of the regular season. Taijuan Walker takes the mound for his final start of the regular year. Stay with this page for updates and analysis.

LAST GAME: Zack Greinke tunes up but Diamondbacks go down quietly

MUST READ: Diamondbacks owner ends plane to Puerto Rico for Fuentes’ family

It’s official: Greinke to start Wednesday

Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo made official what had seemed obvious for weeks, announcing that right-hander Zack Greinke will start Wednesday’s wild card game at Chase Field.

“There’s no mystery to it,” Lovullo said. “We just wanted to walk through the process and do it the right way and let him know. It’s official. He’ll be starting on Wednesday.”

Greinke gave up two runs in four-plus innings on Friday night against the Royals, a so-so outing that came on the heels of his worst start of the year, when he gave up eight runs in four innings against the Marlins on Sept. 22.

After a shaky debut year with the Diamondbacks, Greinke’s performance this season was more in line with what the club thought it was getting when it invested $206.5 million in him two offseasons ago. In 32 starts, he posted a 3.20 ERA in 202 1/3 innings.

“He’s been everything that we needed all year long,” Lovullo said. “I don’t think that’s going to change in one game. I know he’s going to be ready for Wednesday.”

As it stands, Greinke and the Diamondbacks are likely to face the Colorado Rockies in the do-or-die game on Wednesday evening. In five starts against them this season, Greinke has a 3.41 ERA in 34 1/3 innings.

Lineup

 

Saturday’s game

Diamondbacks at Royals

When: 4:15 p.m.

Where: Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City.

Pitchers: Diamondbacks RHP Taijuan Walker (9-9, 3.54) vs. Royals RHP Jakob Junis (8-3, 4.39).

TV/Radio: FSAZ/KMVP-FM (98.7), KSUN-AM (1400).

Walker struggled his last time out, giving up seven runs (three earned) in 3 2/3 innings, committing a pair of errors that helped the Marlins scored five runs in the third inning on Sept. 23. … Walker has been having a harder time finding the strike zone recently, issuing 17 walks in 25 2/3 innings this month. … Walker has faced the Royals twice in his career, including once last season, giving up three runs (two earned) in five innings. … Junis has never been a prospect of acclaim, but as a rookie this season he has given the Royals some dependability out of their rotation. … He gave up six runs in 5 2/3 innings against the Yankees in his most recent start but had posted a 2.62 ERA in six starts (34 1/3 innings) prior to that. … Junis throws a low-90s fastball along with a slider, change-up and curveball.

Coming up

Sunday: At Kansas City, 12:15 p.m., Diamondbacks LHP Robbie Ray (15-5, 2.86) vs. Royals LHP Jason Vargas (17-10, 4.03).

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