Randall Delgado will make his second start of the season for the D-backs in place of Taijuan Walker on Monday against the Pirates.
Walker is on the 10-day disabled list with a blister on his index finger and Delgado took his place last Wednesday against the White Sox. It was the right-hander's first start since 2015, and he allowed two runs (one earned) over four innings while throwing a season-high 61 pitches.
The D-backs ran through five relievers after Delgado, but they got seven innings Thursday from left-hander Robbie Ray, which gave the bullpen a chance to get back to nearly full strength.
Arizona manager Torey Lovullo waited to name Delgado as Monday's starter because he wanted to make sure the bullpen would not be taxed again Thursday.
"He deserves that," Lovullo said of Delgado getting the start Monday. "We feel like Randall did a really good job, and we know that we can build on that pitch count. I think it was 60 pitches, so we can add 10 to 15 more pitches and see where that takes him."
Pollock update
The D-backs still do not plan on activating outfielder A.J. Pollock until after this 11-game road trip.
Pollock was placed on the DL on May 15 after suffering a Grade 1 right groin strain. He has been working out at the team's Spring Training facility at Salt River Fields.
"In A.J.'s case, he's such an important piece to this puzzle that we don't want to force feed anything," Lovullo said. "So we trust his feedback, we trust what he's giving us, we trust what's coming from Salt River with the medical staff there. When he's ready and he's giving us good feedback and we see it for ourselves, we'll pick it up."