Fifth starter, bullpen jobs on the line as Arizona Diamondbacks spring training shifts to games

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Simple math tells us there is one spot open in the starting rotation and one, maybe two, spots to be filled in the bullpen.

The Arizona Diamondbacks pitching staff is nearly complete.

And Opening Day is still five weeks away.

Manager Chip Hale announced early in spring training Zack Greinke would start game No. 1 against the Colorado Rockies with Shelby Miller and Patrick Corbin to follow in a yet to be determined order.

Days later Rubby De La Rosa was added to the mix, accounting for four of the five available rotation spots.

“Trust me, the fifth spot is going to be a dog fight,” Hale said.

Left-hander Robbie Ray will get the first shot to impress when he starts Thursday’s Cactus League home opener against the Rockies.

From there, Archie Bradley, Zack Godley and Tyler Wagner will get opportunities throughout March to win the job. Braden Shipley, the team’s first-round draft pick in 2013, is also considered a candidate; though it’s more likely he begins the season in the minors.

Ray has been the one most linked to the fifth starter’s spot.

A year ago, Ray ranked among National League rookie leaders in ERA (second), starts (fourth), innings pitched (fourth), strikeouts (fourth) and opponent average (fifth).

“I was able to hold my own for 23 starts,” he said, referring to his 3.52 ERA, fourth-best ever by a D-backs rookie starting pitcher. “It’s always good when they mention your name, but you still have to go out there and compete and earn the job because it’s not just going to be given to you.”

Bradley, meanwhile, made the team out of spring training in 2015 and pitched well until his season was derailed by a Carlos Gonzalez line drive to the face; Zack Godley “came up and made a huge impact on our club,” according to Hale, and the 25-year-old Wagner was acquired in the Jean Segura deal with Milwaukee.

“These guys are going to have to come in and compete hard,” Hale said. “You have to keep your spot also. That’s the thing we’re trying to create here. We’re trying to create depth and competition. We’re going to need eight, nine guys—starters—by the end of the year.”

The competition for bullpen jobs, as few as there appear to be, will be just as intense.

Hale has said he’d like to break camp with 12 pitchers meaning after the five starters are named, he’ll have seven pitchers in the bullpen.

Brad Ziegler, Daniel Hudson and Tyler Clippard have spots locked up. They’ll work the late innings with Ziegler entering the season as the closer after his career-best 30 saves a year ago.

Andrew Chafin, Josh Collmenter and Randall Delgado are odds-on favorites to make the 25-man roster as well, leaving Hale one spot to choose among Silvino Bracho, Enrique Burgos, Daniel Gibson, Keith Hessler, Evan Marshall and Matt Reynolds.

Gibson became a late addition to the conversation when after watching a recent bullpen sessions Hale heaped praise upon the young left-hander.

“He’s got good stuff; very impressed,” Hale said. “We saw a lot of him in the Fall League and he’s much better than what we saw in the Fall League. He’s very impressive. He had a great year for us in the minor leagues. He’s a real bright star for us in our system, and he’s shooting for a shot on the team.”

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