Lovullo announces D-backs' starting rotation

Bradley will begin regular season coming out of bullpen

March 24th, 2017

PHOENIX -- Zack Greinke, , Robbie Ray, and will comprise the D-backs' starting rotation, with shifting to the bullpen to open the season.
Beyond Greinke starting on Opening Day, D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said he was not ready to announce what order the starters will pitch in.
Over the past two weeks, it appeared clear that those five would be a part of the rotation, but Bradley also continued to pitch well, which caused speculation that he could be moved to the bullpen.
"That entire group came to Spring Training ready for competition," Lovullo said. "They performed, and those are things that I have appreciated, because it's not easy to compete with some distractions, but they did a great job. We really like the idea of those five guys being our starters."
• D-backs Spring Training: Schedule | Information | Gear
Greinke, Ray, Miller and Corbin were part of the team's Opening Day rotation last year. Miller and Corbin both struggled, with Miller being demoted to the Minors at one point and Corbin being shifted to the bullpen. This spring, though, both have pitched very well, as has Walker, who came over from the Mariners in an offseason trade.

The order the first time through the rotation will likely be determined by matchups in the first couple weeks of the season.
"All those guys want to get the ball on the fifth day and they will," Lovullo said.
The biggest adjustment will be for Bradley, who has made just one relief appearance in his professional career, and that came in 2011 when he made one relief appearance and one start with rookie-level Missoula after he signed.
"For me, I'd rather be in the big leagues in the bullpen than in Triple-A as a starter," Bradley said earlier this week. "I want to be in the big leagues. I want to pitch against big league hitters. Not in a cocky or selfish way, but I feel like I've advanced far enough to where I'm a big league pitcher every day."