PHOENIX -- After years working on developing a pitch to go along with his fastball and curve in order to make it as a starter, D-backs right-hander Archie Bradley finally felt good about his changeup and cut fastball this spring.
Now, though, Bradley finds himself in the Arizona bullpen to open the season, where having a third pitch (or fourth) is no longer necessary.
So will he try to keep all four pitches or go back to his best two?
"I've thought about that and I've been asking some of the other guys," said Bradley, who fanned seven in his first career relief appearance, a 3 1/3-inning scoreless outing during Tuesday's 8-4 loss to the Giants. "I'm going to try and continue to throw everything. I know there's going to be some situations where I may not have the opportunity to or the situation doesn't call for it, but I think that's kind of what makes my situation special -- that I do now have four pitches. I think having a pitcher coming out of the bullpen throwing four pitches is difficult for a hitter. Normally they only have to focus on two."
Bradley's fastball reached 97 mph during his final outing of Spring Training.
Gardy staying through homestand: Bench coach Ron Gardenhire will remain with the D-backs through their weekend series with the Indians before departing for an undetermined period of time to have surgery to treat prostate cancer.
Gardenhire announced at the start of the spring that he had been diagnosed with cancer.
Triple-A Reno manager Jerry Narron, who has been with the big league club all spring and through Opening Day, will fill in for Gardenhire.
"When Gardy announced that he was going to need to step away, I asked if Jerry could come on in and get familiar with my style and my situation, which Gardy is paying very close attention to," Lovullo said. "There's going to be one transition and that's Gardy back in once he's healthy. I just felt strongly that to limit the transitions was important to me. I didn't want to have Gardy in and then Jerry in and then Gardy back in. I felt like that made the most sense."
Injury updates: Reliever Jake Barrett (right shoulder) threw a bullpen session Sunday and is slated to face hitters in a live batting-practice session Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Rubby De La Rosa threw a 15-pitch bullpen session and a 15-pitch live batting-practice session Tuesday.
Marshall claimed: The Mariners claimed right-hander Evan Marshall off waivers. The D-backs designated him for assignment toward the end of Spring Training.