Simply divine: Godley wins first 3 starts

WASHINGTON -- Zack Godley has a very simple approach to pitching, and given the results he's had in his first three big league starts, the D-backs' right-hander is best served sticking to it.

Godley's latest gem came Monday night as he tossed six shutout innings in the D-backs' 6-4 win over the Nationals.

"I felt really good," Godley said. "I was locating pitches pretty well and guys were swinging early, and that plays really well into what I'm trying to do. Just trying to get ground balls or get them to put the ball in play and let my defense work, and they played great behind me."

Godley (3-0) has compiled a 1.50 ERA, and while it was initially thought that this would be his last start in the big leagues for now, the D-backs find themselves rethinking that.

At issue is the number of innings Godley has thrown. He's now at 107 1/3 this year after throwing 55 1/3 in relief last year. The D-backs want to be careful with his arm and have discussed sending him back to the Minors and using him out of the bullpen when Chase Anderson comes off the disabled list.

It's also possible they could keep him in the big leagues and go to a six-man rotation to limit his innings, as well as those of Patrick Corbin, who is making his return from Tommy John surgery.

"It sure is," D-backs manager Chip Hale said, when asked if it would be difficult to take Godley out of the rotation. "But we have to do what's best for him and the organization. It might be best for him to be here and with limited innings."

Godley's promotion to the big leagues a couple of weeks ago was a bit of a surprise. He opened the season with Class A Advanced Visalia, where he made 12 starts before a promotion to Double-A Mobile. After just three starts during which he compiled a 5.14 ERA, Godley -- who was acquired from the Cubs in the Miguel Montero deal -- was added to the 40-man roster and brought up to take Anderson's spot in the rotation.

"Just to come up here and to be able to have the outings I've had and just to be able to have the defense play behind me the way they have is just awesome," Godley said. "I think I've thrown well and I just hope that I've done enough to impress the guys."

Another newcomer that has impressed is catcher Welington Castillo, who mashed his 10th homer in 170 at-bats since joining the D-backs two months ago.

Video: ARI@WSH: Castillo goes back-to-back for a 4-0 lead

"I think it's a mindset, honestly," Castillo said. "Sometimes I try to do too much, more than I can do. That's when I get in trouble. So I'm going out there and having fun and doing things simple, better. I don't try to put my best swing on it, just try to hit the ball hard somewhere."