D-backs name Madison Bumgarner Opening Day starting pitcher

Apr 3, 2022, 12:41 PM

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Madison Bumgarner argues with the home plate umpire during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Friday, Sept. 3, 2021, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

BY ALEX WEINER

Arizona Sports

The Arizona Diamondbacks named Madison Bumgarner their Opening Day starting pitcher on Sunday.

This will be Bumgarner’s third straight Opening Day start for the D-backs after he threw in five season openers for the San Francisco Giants.

Manager Torey Lovullo said on Friday that he wanted to see the cycle of starts during spring training before picking the Game 1 starter. Bumgarner threw five scoreless innings on Friday against the Chicago Cubs in which he struck out six batters.

He said after the game he wanted to work all of his pitches during the performance to get ready for the season.

“I feel good,” Bumgarner told reporters after the outing. “It’s definitely a different spring, a lot faster build up. But so far, everything feels pretty good.”

The 32-year-old has a 5.07 ERA in 35 starts as a D-back over the past two seasons.

He got off to a slow start in 2021 but found a groove. In 17 games from April 18 to Aug. 24, he had a 3.19 ERA with 83 strikeouts in 98.2 innings.

Bumgarner is approaching his 14th season in MLB, and he said on Friday that the start of the campaign feels like a birthday for someone who has had a lot of them.

Madison Bumgarner on today’s outing: pic.twitter.com/Wcudof2rSY

— Alex Weiner (@alexjweiner) April 1, 2022

Opening Day is on Thursday, as the D-backs will take on the visiting San Diego Padres at Chase Field starting at 6:40 p.m.

The game will air on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station.

Follow @alexjweiner

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