D-backs’ Madison Bumgarner to debut in Thursday spring training game

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The wait is almost over, Arizona Diamondbacks fans.

The D-backs’ prized offseason acquisition, Madison Bumgarner, will make his first start for the organization this week, manager Torey Lovullo said ahead of Tuesday’s spring training matchup with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

“I know I had been telling [the media], speculating that it would be later in the week, so Thursday will be his start,” Lovullo said.

The first game for Bumgarner this spring will come at Salt River Fields against the Cincinnati Reds with a 1:10 p.m. first pitch. It will stream on Dbacks.com.

The start will mark beginning of the ace’s 12th season in the majors.

Over that span, Bumgarner has won three World Series, all with the San Francisco Giants, earning four MLB All-Star Game appearances in the process. He posted double-digit win totals from 2011 to 2016.

While Thursday’s start won’t count in the win-loss column, it’s the start of a new era for both the D-backs and MadBum.

BASE HITS

– Lovullo said slugger Christian Walker will be back at first base Wednesday. Walker had been dealing with general soreness since the start of spring training.

– Lovullo on playing the Dodgers: “It’s always exciting to play the Dodgers and I’m sure that their fans will be out here doing their thing and I’m sure there’s going to be a ton of energy in the stadium. I’m looking forward to it.”

– Lovullo on pitcher Jon Duplantier ahead of his start on Tuesday: “I’m really excited to see Duplantier throw the baseball. He’s had a really good spring up to this point with some of the reps that I’ve been watching. He’s made some tiny mechanical tweaks and things are coming out of his hand real well. I’m anxious to see what that looks like in live action.”

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