Zack Godley and Zack Greinke could push the Arizona Diamondbacks down the stretch.
Here in the stretch run, the starting rotation of the Arizona Diamondbacks seems uncertain. Not that starters are on life-support, but the once-continuity appears disruptive and uncertain.
After Shelby Miller went down with Tommy John surgery at the end of April, Taijuan Walker visited the disabled list a painful blister on his pitching hand and now All-Star Robby Ray out with a concussion, the steadiness needed for the most important section of the season became tentative at best.
Plus, Patrick Corbin, named to the rotation because of a stellar spring training, has been less than stellar. By default, the fortunes of this team now fall on a pair of players whose last names begins with “G” and ideally end in (o) as in zero.
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Despite a no-decision Tuesday night against the Los Angeles Dodgers at home, Zack Godley seemed to solidify his position as perhaps the most reliable starter. After allowing three runs, and two coming on a pair of solo homers from Justin Turner, Godley did exactly what a strong starting should do, and give his team a chance to win. That reality transpired when Jake Lamb slammed a grand slam off of lefty Tony Watson in the seventh and powered a 6-3 win over the Dodgers before 24,810 in Chase Field Tuesday night.
Yet, Godley continues to demonstrate his value and together with the second “G” starter Zack Greinke, this pair could provide two stoppers for the stretch drive.
Displaying a nasty sinker and even better control, Godley pushed his way into the majors with Arizona last season. Coupled with an effective curve and an assortment of off-speed pitches, the former University of Tennessee standout continues to sport one of the lowest ERAs among starting pitchers in the majors.
After his 6.2 inning effort against the Dodgers Tuesday night, Godley told Call to the Pen that success depends on command.
“It’s about executing pitches,” he said. “I use the curve and off-speed stuff to keep hitters off balance, and that’s the key to getting guys out. I haven’t changed much since I arrived here last year. It’s all about making pitches and keeping guys off balance.”
For his part, Godley did not survive spring training and was sent to Triple-A Reno on March 25. Since, he was called from the minors three times and finally stayed with Arizona on June 6. Placed in the rotation when Randall Delgado was sent to the bullpen in mid-June, Godley’s present 2.94 ERA would be fourth best in the NL if he qualified with innings pitched. After his start against the Dodgers, Godley was tossed 101.0 innings.
Then, there’s the resurgence of Zack Greinke.
Following a less than-celebrated 13-7 season a year ago, a 4.37 ERA for 26 starts and over one month on the disabled list for a strained left oblique, Greinke has responded with one of his strongest season. Coming into his start Wednesday night against the Dodgers in Chase Field, the 33-year-old is 13-4 and a 3.10 ERA. That includes 10-0 in 12 home starts, and he seeks to be the first pitcher to start 11-0 at home since he did so in 2011 with the Brewers.
In his last seven starts before Wednesday’s assignment, Greinke was 5-0 with two no-decisions and a 3.00 ERA.
All of which sets up the strong possibility that Greinke and Godley have the execution and discipline to carry this team down the stretch.
In place of Ray
NL All-Star lefty Robbie Ray continues to recover from a concussion sustained during the last road trip in St. Louis.
Ray tossed 28 pitches in a bullpen session on Monday and manager Torey Lovullo told Call to the Pen that things are progressing as well as can be expected. Still, Lovullo would not commit to any return to the mound nor game action.
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Scheduled to face Yu Darvish and the Los Angeles Dodgers this Thursday night, Ray is scratched. Instead, lefty Anthony Banda (1-1) will start. Regarding his rotation for this weekend’s home series against the Chicago Cubs, Lovullo would not commit, but promised Call to the Pen he would make his rotation known in the next day or two.