D-backs swap next starts for Godley, Ray

August 22nd, 2018
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      PHOENIX -- The D-backs made a slight change to their rotation, flip-flopping Robbie Ray and .
      With two off-days this week, the D-backs had the luxury of realigning the rotation. Godley will start Friday, and Ray moves to Saturday.
      D-backs manager Torey Lovullo emphasized that the move was made, not based on an injury, but simply to maximize upcoming matchups.
      "We just liked the way it looked, whether it be short-term or long-term, we just thought it was something we wanted to look at," Lovullo said. "It's also going to give Robbie an extra day to work on the side with [pitching coach] Mike Butcher. So, it was a combination of a couple things."

      Bring it on
      The final 37 games of the season for the D-backs feature seven each against the Rockies and Dodgers, along with four each against the Braves and Cubs and three at Houston.
      "Everyone has asked me about this situation, where we're playing teams that are over .500, and I don't even know what it is, but it's all over the place and I can't avoid it," Lovullo said. "But I want teams to know that when they come in here and play us, they've got to be ready to go, and hopefully they're worrying about playing us. So we want to make sure that we embrace where we are. We've earned this spot that we're in and [we'll] just continue being the team that we've been up to this point. We're the Arizona Diamondbacks and we're in first place and we're a good team."
      Extension
      The D-backs extended their player-development contract with Class A Advanced Visalia of the California League for two years through 2020. Visalia has been a D-backs affiliate since 2007.

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      Steve Gilbert has covered the D-backs for MLB.com since 2001. Follow him on Twitter @SteveGilbertMLB.