Dodgers series shows how September call-ups can help D-backs bullpen

Late-game pitching blew what could have been a series win — or potentially even a sweep — for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The September call-ups provide a way for manager Torey Lovullo to get the most of his bullpen and create ideal matchups, something that will be particularly important if reliever Archie Bradley can’t regain his form.

But we’ve already seen the results of a little tinkering.

The added depth allowed manager Torey Lovullo to remove Sunday starter Clay Buchholz the moment he got into trouble in the sixth.

It allowed him to pitch Bracho for one batter before pulling the reliever for southpaw Jake Diekman when the Dodgers had a pair of left-handed hitters due up. By putting Bracho in position to face one hitter, Lovullo could save Yoshi Hirano for the end of the seventh and beginning of the eighth innings.

Using four relievers before the eighth inning would typically wear down a bullpen. In September, the D-backs still had their eighth- and ninth-inning guys.

On the final day of August, Lovullo kept starter Zack Greinke in the game despite having a chance to pinch-hit for him in the top eighth.

“He deserved that opportunity to go out there and face those two right-handed hitters, those were his last two guys,” Lovullo said after that game to Fox Sports Arizona..

If he had a guy like Bracho — who has a 2.04 ERA in limited time in the majors this year — or reliever Jimmie Sherfy, who has a minuscule ERA in his 14.2 innings of major league work, Lovullo might have more strongly considered removing Greinke without worry of wearing down his bullpen.

Instead, Greinke gave up a go-ahead home run in the eighth and the D-backs lost.

On Thursday, five relievers pitched after starter Robbie Ray was pulled in the sixth, perhaps impacting Lovullo’s decision to stick with Greinke late the next night.

Starter Matt Koch can play a long-relief role if Ray is unable to go deep into games, as has been Ray’s tendency this season.

Lovullo’s options aren’t just limited to the bullpen.

With the additions of outfielder Silvino Bracho, infielder/outfielder Chris Owings and catcher Chris Stewart, the D-backs can toy with pinch-hitting and double-switches that they couldn’t prior to the month.

If the D-backs want to pinch-hit for the starting catcher, they can pull use a non-catcher to do so, replace the pinch-hitter with a second catcher, and still have two more at their disposal.

When Owings’ name is called, his versatility will allow Arizona to double-switch him at center field, right field or either middle infield position.

He also has the potential to start at any of those spots, giving the D-backs the chance to have a starting-caliber player on the bench for a pinch-hit opportunity late in the game.

While Owings is hitting just .198 this year and got demoted to Triple-A, he had 26 hits in 21 games in Reno.

Brito, who struck out on a nine-pitch battle in a pressure situation Sunday, hit .318 with 17 home runs in Triple-A.

But a different man from Reno has already provided a spark.

Christian Walker, called up on Friday, hit a home run Saturday to give the D-backs a 2-0 lead.

Arizona, with a lack of power off the bench, can benefit from his power in particular.

None of the three catchers — four, now, with Stewart — hit for power. Jon Jay, who the D-backs acquired in June for his ability to get on base, is far from a home run hitter. He has two this season.

While second baseman Daniel Descalso defines the word “clutch,” including a go-ahead home run in the ninth frame Sunday, he’s not a power hitter by any means.

His 12 home runs this season is the most in his nine-year career.

Walker can help alleviate this issue.

In Triple-A Reno last season, he had 32 home runs, 34 doubles and 114 RBI. This season, Walker had 18 home runs and 25 doubles in 84 games.

None of the players called up is going to start an Arizona run on his own. But if used correctly, Lovullo and the D-backs can coax another couple games into the win column.

In a division this close, that could make all the difference.

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