Ray improving, ready to throw bullpen session

SAN FRANCISCO -- After fearing the worst when he was hit in the head by a line drive July 28, the D-backs will see left-hander Robbie Ray throw off a mound Monday.
Manager Torey Lovullo said Ray will throw a bullpen session in Arizona on the D-backs' off-day, which comes 10 days after Ray was hit by Cardinals infielder Luke Voit's 108 mph line drive in St. Louis.
"Everything is going in a very good direction and is trending in a positive way," Lovullo said. "We're very happy."
Ray was taken to the hospital and had two staples put in the side of his head to close a wound in addition to being diagnosed with a concussion. He returned to Phoenix before the team went to San Francisco and was cleared for baseball activities Thursday.
Ray played catch Friday and Saturday, extending out to as much as 125 feet away, before getting a day off Sunday. While the team's excited with his progress so far, Lovullo said it's unlikely Ray returns when his spot in the rotation comes up Thursday against the Dodgers.
"What the plan is beyond tomorrow, I don't exactly know," Lovullo said before Sunday's series finale vs. the Giants. "We want to get him through the first bullpen and then come up with a game plan."
Rookie Anthony Banda, the team's No. 4 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, gave up one run in six innings Friday in Ray's rotation spot. But the team said the starter for Thursday is still to be announced even as Banda stays with the team. With Monday's day off, the team could elect to skip Ray's spot and have right-hander Taijuan Walker pitch on his normal rest.
Worth noting
• Randall Delgado (flexor strain in right elbow) played catch from 90 feet out Saturday as part of his throwing program, but Lovullo said the team doesn't yet know when he'll get back on a mound.