• Zack Greinke on his start vs. Netherlands

    Zack Greinke on his start vs. Netherlands

  • Shelby Miller strikes out 8 vs. Mariners

    Shelby Miller strikes out 8 vs. Mariners

  • D-Backs' Robbie Ray on spring start vs. Brewers

    D-Backs’ Robbie Ray on spring start vs. Brewers

  • Zack Greinke comments on his throwing session

    Zack Greinke comments on his throwing session

  • Diamondbacks' Patrick Corbin after spring outing vs. White Sox

    Diamondbacks’ Patrick Corbin after spring outing vs. White Sox

  • Taijuan Walker after latest dominant start for D-Backs

    Taijuan Walker after latest dominant start for D-Backs

  • Zack Greinke on his diminished velocity in start vs. Mexico

    Zack Greinke on his diminished velocity in start vs. Mexico

  • Shelby Miller discusses latest start

    Shelby Miller discusses latest start

  • D-Backs' Taijuan Walker on his latest strong outing

    D-Backs’ Taijuan Walker on his latest strong outing

  • D-Backs lefty Patrick Corbin after spring outing vs. Padres

    D-Backs lefty Patrick Corbin after spring outing vs. Padres

  • Shelby Miller on his outing vs. Cubs

    Shelby Miller on his outing vs. Cubs

  • Archie Bradley on strong outing vs. Padres

    Archie Bradley on strong outing vs. Padres

  • Robbie Ray on his spring training debut

    Robbie Ray on his spring training debut

  • Spring training story lines to watch

    Spring training story lines to watch

  • Taijuan Walker throws two innings in spring debut

    Taijuan Walker throws two innings in spring debut

  • Some things about Spring Training season just haven't changed...

    Some things about Spring Training season just haven’t changed…

  • MLB changing intentional walks for 2017

    MLB changing intentional walks for 2017

  • Just the FAQs: Brewers at bullpen

    Just the FAQs: Brewers at bullpen

  • Projecting the 2017 MLB season

    Projecting the 2017 MLB season

  • MLB's 100 Names to Know for 2017

    MLB’s 100 Names to Know for 2017

  • MLB commissioner Rob Manfred on rule changes, MLBPA cooperation

    MLB commissioner Rob Manfred on rule changes, MLBPA cooperation

  • Diamondbacks' Ken Kendrick discusses team's lawsuit

    Diamondbacks’ Ken Kendrick discusses team’s lawsuit

  • D-Backs manager Torey Lovullo on Goldschmidt, team's core

    D-Backs manager Torey Lovullo on Goldschmidt, team’s core

  • Behind the scenes at Diamondbacks Photo Day

    Behind the scenes at Diamondbacks Photo Day

  • Cubs' Joe Maddon on why it's difficult to repeat

    Cubs’ Joe Maddon on why it’s difficult to repeat

  • Cubs' Joe Maddon on this season's preparation

    Cubs’ Joe Maddon on this season’s preparation

  • A look at Diamondbacks Fan Fest 2017

    A look at Diamondbacks Fan Fest 2017

  • Closer Fernando Rodney throws bullpen session

    Closer Fernando Rodney throws bullpen session

  • Baseball stadiums on the way out or in danger of extinction

    Baseball stadiums on the way out or in danger of extinction

  • Taijuan Walker throws bullpen session at Salt River Fields

    Taijuan Walker throws bullpen session at Salt River Fields

  • Shelby Miller throws bullpen session at Salt River Fields

    Shelby Miller throws bullpen session at Salt River Fields

  • D-Backs bench coach Ron Gardenhire diagnosed with prostate cancer

    D-Backs bench coach Ron Gardenhire diagnosed with prostate cancer

  • D-Backs manager Lovullo on getting started, Shelby Miller

    D-Backs manager Lovullo on getting started, Shelby Miller

  • D-Backs pitcher Archie Bradley talks about his beard

    D-Backs pitcher Archie Bradley talks about his beard

  • D-Backs skipper Torey Lovullo press conference

    D-Backs skipper Torey Lovullo press conference

  • D-Backs pitcher Patrick Corbin reports to spring training camp in Scottsdale

    D-Backs pitcher Patrick Corbin reports to spring training camp in Scottsdale

  • Diamondbacks' pitcher Archie Bradley: "New year. New team. New everything. We're excited."

    Diamondbacks’ pitcher Archie Bradley: “New year. New team. New everything. We’re excited.”

  • D-Backs near crossroads with Goldschmidt

    D-Backs near crossroads with Goldschmidt

  • The best MLB lineup realistic money can buy

    The best MLB lineup realistic money can buy

  • Montini: Diamondbacks' lawsuit is one big error

    Montini: Diamondbacks’ lawsuit is one big error

  • Cubs, coffee and cars: How things have changed since the North Siders last won the World Series

    Cubs, coffee and cars: How things have changed since the North Siders last won the World Series

So far, Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo has only named one starting pitcher to his five-man rotation – Zack Greinke. Everybody with a clue, though, has a pretty good idea who the other four will be behind Arizona’s ace.

Go ahead and carve Patrick Corbin’s name into stone. Using a pencil would just be a waste of time.

If his past two starts are any indication, the left-hander is ready for the regular season to begin. Even Corbin himself said he probably doesn’t need any more Cactus League tuning up, other than to get his pitch count up to 90.

Including Sunday’s strong performance at Goodyear Ballpark against the Indians, Corbin has pitched through a string that has seen him, during one stretch, retire 23 of 24 batters faced. He retired the past 15 hitters he saw a week ago during a rout of the Rangers and this time out, pitched three, 1-2-3 innings against Cleveland.

“Yeah, I feel great. I feel ready to go,” Corbin said. “If the next one was regular season, I’d be ready. It’s just a matter of getting up to about 90 (pitches) and once we do that, we’ll be ready to start the season. But everything feels good. I’m happy with my off-speed pitches and getting ahead of guys and throwing strikes.”

Other than the pitch count, Corbin said he feels like he’s checked off every box this spring.

CACTUS LEAGUE: Coverage from azcentral sports and ASU’s Cronkite School

“Yeah, yeah,” he said. “The only thing new today was getting to bat, so that was a first – getting out there and seeing some pitchers. But yeah, I’ll just continue to build off this, build my pitch count up and be ready to go.”

The only other thing awaiting Corbin, of course, is for Lovullo to officially name him one of the Diamondbacks’ five starters. Before Sunday’s game in Goodyear, the first-year skipper tried to explain why that hasn’t happened yet.

“We’re going to hold off on doing any of that but he’s done exactly what we had hoped all the guys would do,” Lovullo said. “He’s been outstanding with his preparations, following the process and now the execution. He’s been throwing the ball very, very well and we want that to continue.

“I know time is running down and we’re going to have to make some decisions. We want to make hard decisions based on their performance and they have all done a great job with that.”

By “all,” Lovullo may as well be referring to multiple positions throughout the team.

“Absolutely, one after another,” he said. “The competition at shortstop, all the catchers, these starters. They’ve all been answering the challenge that was issued upon them and they’re continuing to make our decisions very hard. In Patrick’s case, he’s been executing pitch after pitch and it’s been fun for us to watch.”

MORE: Greinke solid against Netherlands

But hasn’t it just been a teeny bit frustrating for Corbin to not yet be named to the starting five?

“No, I just go out there every fifth day and take the ball,” he said. “I feel good and I feel like the ball’s coming out good and I’m pleased with where I am.”

Asked again if he’s OK with Lovullo not having formally tabbed him as of yet, Corbin shook his head and smiled.

“Whenever he does is fine,” he said. “I’m just going to throw my bullpen in two days and be ready to go.”

Corbin has worked tirelessly for this moment after some recent rough times. The Diamondbacks’ Opening Day starter in 2014, he would go on to suffer torn elbow ligaments and be shut down for more than a full season after requiring Tommy John surgery. He came back, had a small share of successes, and then struggled before ultimately being sent toward the end of this past season to the bullpen as a long reliever.

Privately, Corbin hated the new role. But he toed the company line, said all the right things, and waited for his chance to show he deserved to be a starter again. He’s proved throughout this spring that he belongs in the rotation.

GET THE FREE DBACKS APP: iPhone | Android

SOCIAL: Follow azcentral sports on Facebook | Twitter

He was especially pleased with his effort against the Indians, against whom he went five innings, allowing two runs on four hits with no walks and a strikeout. After exiting, he went to the Arizona bullpen and threw an additional 11 pitches to bring his pitch count to 75.

“It was a hot day out there for sure, but it was just good to build up the pitch count. I threw all my pitches, was able to work on some things, and I’ll just build off of this,” he said.

Build and wait for Lovullo to make things official. Not that Corbin is losing any sleep over it.

“I feel real good,” he said. “I’m confident in everything I’ve done to this point.”

Reach McManaman at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @azbobbymac and listen to him live every Wednesday night between 7-9 on Fox Sports 910-AM on The Freaks with Kenny and Crash.

Autoplay

Show Thumbnails

Show Captions