ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

Lovullo explains why D-backs gave extended rest to Greinke, Ray

Jul 18, 2017, 3:31 PM | Updated: 5:01 pm

Follow @kzimmermanaz...

Robbie Ray’s start on Tuesday against the Cincinnati Reds will end a 12-day break from competitive pitching.

Diamondbacks teammate Zack Greinke will likewise be 12 days removed from his last start when he pitches Wednesday. With Arizona coming off a three-game sweep against the Braves and having lost 11 of its past 14 games, it was a wonder why manager Torey Lovullo opted against riding the team’s two best arms to begin the second half of 2017.

Simply put, it was about allowing Greinke (11-4, 2.86 ERA) and Ray (8-4, 2.97 ERA) to perform during the All-Star game.

“The thought process was, knowing that they were potentially All-Stars, we were 10 days, two weeks ahead of things with our rotation with some of our thoughts,” Lovullo told Burns and Gambo on 98.7 FM, Arizona’s Sports Station. “And once they were All-Stars, we wanted to allow them to go there and perform — do whatever was asked of them by Joe Maddon and his group to help the National League win that game — and then come back with the right amount of rest.”

Greinke and Ray will be more than rested assuming they didn’t go overboard with bullpen sessions over the last 12 days.

In the All-Star game, Greinke pitched one inning while Ray didn’t make an appearance.

Despite that limited usage, Lovullo didn’t want to change the plan and disrupt what the other three starters — Taijuan Walker, Patrick Corbin and Zack Godley — were preparing for out of the break.

“We didn’t want to reverse things and treat anybody unfairly. We wanted to keep it as it was — as it was scripted — instead of juggling something because of the outcome and the lack of use in the All-Star game,” Lovullo said.

“It could have happened where (Greinke and Ray) did pitch a lot, and we wanted to safeguard ourselves against that.”

WHAT’S GONE WRONG?

“My assessment over the past two weeks has been getting runners on base and then just not producing that big hit to blow open an inning or to get that big hit to extend an inning — or just to do something to tack on a couple runs. For the first several months of the year, we were getting that big hit and having big innings.” — Lovullo on why the D-backs have lost 11 of 14

Arizona Diamondbacks

Lourdes Gurriel Jr....

Alex Weiner

Diamondbacks keep good times rolling with 14-run inning, Opening Day rout of Rockies

What the Diamondbacks accomplished in the third inning against the Rockies on Thursday night was completely new for those in the ballpark. 

9 hours ago

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. flips his bat during Arizona Diamondbacks' 2024 Opening Day...

Arizona Sports

Diamondbacks score 14 runs in a single inning to beat Rockies on Opening Day

The Arizona Diamondbacks set franchise marks with 13 hits and 14 runs in the third inning of their 2024 Opening Day game against the Rockies.

12 hours ago

Blaze Alexander...

Alex Weiner

Blaze Alexander did all he could to make Diamondbacks’ Opening Day roster

Diamondbacks infielder Blaze Alexander put together a spring that made it too difficult for the team to send him back to the minor leagues.

16 hours ago

Ketel Marte celebrates...

Tyler Drake

Ketel Marte to lead off Arizona Diamondbacks’ Opening Day lineup

The Arizona Diamondbacks' Opening Day lineup is set ahead of their matchup against the Colorado Rockies on Thursday.

19 hours ago

Jordan Montgomery throws a pitch...

Tyler Drake

Hall: Diamondbacks’ addition of Jordan Montgomery ‘made a lot of sense’

The Diamondbacks' addition of Jordan Montgomery puts a bow on a rotation that should be in the conversation for the top spot across MLB.

21 hours ago

Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno...

Arizona Sports

Roundtable picks: One Diamondbacks young player to watch in 2024

Which Arizona Diamondbacks player should continue an upward trend in 2024? Gabriel Moreno, Brandon Pfaadt and Alek Thomas are possibilities.

21 hours ago

Lovullo explains why D-backs gave extended rest to Greinke, Ray