Arizona Diamondbacks to once again play dress up

PHOENIX – Beach attire. Favorite throwback jersey. NASA. Red, white and blue.

The Arizona Diamondbacks had several themed trips in 2017. The fun is back this season, early in fact. Manager Torey Lovullo wants the entire travel party headed to St. Louis wearing their Sunday best.

“We’re a relaxed team, we don’t play dress up really often in our Sunday cloths but today we will,” he said ahead of Wednesday’s series finale with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

“I just want to see what these guys look like in suits and ties. I see it from time to time at different functions and different events throughout the Valley, so today is going to be exciting for me to see everybody dressed up in one spot.”

And who does Lovullo expect to step up their suit game?

“For some reason, something is telling me that Archie (Bradley) is going to be dressed in a very spectacular way,” he said. “And then another part of me is telling me that Taijuan Walker is going to be a sleeper. He’s a sneaky, classy dresser. That’s my feeling — they all dress very well, don’t take that the wrong way, but I think Taijuan is going to turn up his game some way, some how. I don’t know how but that’s what my instincts are telling me.”

The D-backs’ first road trip of the season takes them to St. Louis, San Francisco and L.A. to face the Dodgers.

Godley’s curveball

Only one D-backs starting pitcher went a full six innings through the first turn of the rotation. That was right-hander Zack Godley, who worked seven in Tuesday’s 6-1 win, which earned the D-backs their second series victory of the season.

Godley appears to have picked up where he left off last season, when he set career highs in several categories, including wins (eight), strikeouts (165) and innings pitched (155.0).

Lovullo credits much of Godley’s success to a curveball that many feel is among the best in baseball.

“I think it’s a weapon. I think it is definitely a weapon. He is able to command that pitch and change shapes, change locations and has a great feel for where he wants to throw it and how he wants to throw it. That’s an incredible gift that he’s developed,” he said.

“You watch some really, really good major league hitters offer that ball that they miss by six or seven inches. That’s hard to do. I think he’s got a tremendous weapon in that pitch. I think he’s got three or four other weapons that he carries around and on a given day, when they’re all working, he’s very, very effective.”

Position flexibility

It’s no secret that Lovullo likes players who can play multiple positions. That versatility was important when the D-backs set their Opening Day roster. It’s also something that factored into the team’s decision to carry three catchers for a second straight year.

Each one — Alex Avila, Jeff Mathis and John Ryan Murphy — is able to play a position other than behind the plate, if needed.

“Mathis can play the middle of the diamond, Murphy can play third base and Avila can play first base,” said Lovullo, who added Mathis is most comfortable at second.

“So there’s a little bit of versatility that they offer us in case we get into a jam. And I like that. That’s how my mind works. I think that’s what baseball is kind of trending to, versatility in all areas. I like the feeling of having three just knowing once you put that second catcher in there, you have a little bit of coverage.”

Health updates

A day after being placed on the disabled list with a sprained left AC joint, third baseman Jake Lamb was still experiencing some stiffness in his shoulder, according to Lovullo.

Though Lamb will miss a minimum of 10 days, Lovullo wasn’t aware of a specific timetable.

“Based on the information that I’m hearing, he is trending in a very positive direction and it’s not going to be an incredible amount of time that he’s going to miss,” Lovullo said.

Meanwhile, pitcher Randall Delgado (strained left oblique) is likely to be headed out on a rehab assignment soon and outfielder Steven Souza Jr. (strained right pectoral) was given the day off from baseball activity.

On Tuesday, Souza Jr. played catch from 150 feet, hit in the batting cage and ran the bases.

“Another good report after a very busy day for him yesterday,” Lovullo said. “He feels good, and that’s always a very, very positive sign. Everything is trending in a very positive direction for him.”

Follow @CraigAZSports