MESA, Ariz. -- D-backs outfielder Jarrod Dyson will be sidelined after an MRI showed that he is suffering from a strained left oblique muscle.
“We feel like in the grand scheme of things it’s just normal downtime, recuperation, a little bit of rest,��� D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said. “He’s not going to miss a big chunk of time. We feel like we have enough time right now to give him the rest, rehab him, get him healthy and then get him back on the field without any significant time missed.”
Dyson injured the oblique while playing catch “aggressively” a few days ago, according to Lovullo.
While Ketel Marte is expected to get the majority of the starts in center, Dyson’s presence is important because Marte has very little experience out there, and the team is a little thin behind him.
Socrates Brito can play center as can Tim Locastro, but the most natural center fielder outside of Dyson might be non-roster invitee Matt Szczur.
Altering his routine
Zack Greinke threw more this past offseason, which he thinks may be one of the reasons why he felt so good in his first start of the spring Monday.
“I started throwing a lot last year in between starts and just playing catch a lot,” he explained. “My arm has felt better since doing that. I continued that a little this offseason and so far in spring. At the moment, I think that’s why my arm is feeling better so I’ll keep doing that.”
Stay tuned
Greinke said after his Monday start that while he prefers throwing to just one catcher for an entire season, he is open to the idea of multiple catchers this year.
While Lovullo would certainly be open to playing whatever catcher matches up best against that day’s opposing pitcher, he thinks Greinke will prefer to stick with just one.
“I think I know what Zack wants deep down,” Lovullo said. “I think he was trying to say something that would help the team aspect. But I’ll sit down with him and figure out what’s best for him.”
Rough beginning
Zack Godley, who is penciled in as the team’s No. 3 starter, got just one out in his first start of the spring in Tuesday's 5-4 win over the Cubs. He allowed four runs (three earned) on two hits while allowing a pair of walks.
“First outing of spring and there are certain things that you have to work through and figure out,” Godley said. “Overall, I mean, fastball command was decent, but that’s something that has to be worked on for sure. I had really good movement on my curveball and changeup today and those are positives I can take out of it.”
Up next
The D-backs will travel to Peoria to take on the Padres on Wednesday afternoon with right-hander Taylor Clarke getting the start. In an effort to get more pitchers some work, the D-backs will also play a “B” game on a back field Wednesday against the NC Dinos of the Korean Baseball Organization. Luke Weaver will make his D-backs debut in that game which starts at 1 p.m. MST. Yoshihisa Hirano is also expected to make his first appearance of the spring in that game.