PHOENIX -- The D-backs open the season three weeks from Thursday against the Dodgers in Los Angeles, but the club is not in a rush to name an Opening Day starter.

Zack Greinke, who is scheduled to pitch Thursday vs. the Indians, appears on track to make his third Opening Day start for Arizona, but Robbie Ray, who started Wednesday's 5-4 loss to the Brewers, remains a possibility.

“We usually wait until the last week before we zone in on that,” D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said. “We have an idea of who the candidates are. I think everyone knows who the candidates are, but we want our guys to build up and get to a certain level and feel comfortable and let them know as quickly as we feel comfortable with that decision.”

The club has three scheduled days off remaining to help get the rotation in order.

As for Ray, he showed why he is a viable candidate to start March 28 at Dodger Stadium. The left-hander retired the first five batters he faced Wednesday -- three via strikeout -- before giving up a solo home run to Erik Kratz. He responded by striking out Ben Gamel for the final out of the second, then struck out the side in the third.

In the fourth, Ray struck out Christian Yelich, and the next batter, Travis Shaw, flied out to center. Manny Pina followed with a double, and Eric Thames hit a two-run home run to chase Ray.

“I felt good. I felt like the ball was coming out good,” Ray said. “My curveball and my slider were sharp today, and I felt like my fastball command was where I wanted it to be, so overall, a really good day.”

Ray allowed three runs on three hits in 3 2/3 innings with eight strikeouts.

“It was one of those days where I kind of had everything working,” Ray said. “I feel really good about where I am at right now.”

Bracho surgery

D-backs reliever Silvino Bracho, who has a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow, said he plans to have Tommy John surgery next Wednesday. Full recovery time is usually somewhere between 12-18 months.

“I’m a little sad. It’s not the news I expected or ever imagined I would get,” Bracho, 26, said in Spanish. “I worked really hard to get ready for Spring Training, and I know I’m out of options and had to make the team, so I prepared to do that. I was throwing well, feeling good. But this is something I can’t control.”

The injury to Bracho, who had a combined 58 appearances between Triple-A Reno and the D-backs last season, means there are two open spots in the bullpen, three if T.J. McFarland (shoulder inflammation) isn’t ready.

“It’s obviously a tough day for [Bracho] and a tough day for us,” Lovullo said. “He’s been doing so many things right, but we explained to him that he’s an injured athlete, so he has to take care of what he needs to take care of and get back as soon as possible.”

Dyson on the mend

Injured outfielder Jarrod Dyson, who has been sidelined by a strained left oblique, hopes to return to game action sometime next week.

For now, Dyson is taking swings in the batting cage and has increased his participation in baseball activity. The club has not set a timetable for his return.

“I’m going to ease into it. Not going to go out there in one day and try to make up the process,” Dyson said. “With obliques, you kind of have to be cautious with it. Even though I feel good and I tell them, 'I feel good,' they’re still going to be cautious with it because those things can flare back at any time. That’s the last thing we want is a setback.”

Worth noting

The D-backs will likely start making cuts to their roster sometime after this weekend’s series against the Rockies in Monterrey, Mexico.

“It’s a very full clubhouse,” Lovullo said. “We have a lot of evaluations that we are walking through right now, but once Minor League camp starts, we’ll start to shuttle guys out so they can get ready for their season if they are not going to make our team.”

Up next

Greinke will take the mound Thursday against Trevor Bauer and the Indians at Salt River Fields at 1:10 p.m. MST. Jon Duplantier, Matt Andriese, Greg Holland, Marc Rzepczynski, Jimmie Sherfy, Emilio Vargas, Bo Takahashi and Braden Shipley are also scheduled to pitch.