GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Michael Soroka was sharp in his penultimate outing of the spring Thursday night, as he held the White Sox scoreless for five innings in the D-backs' 4-2 loss at Camelback Ranch.
Soroka, who was signed by the Diamondbacks last December, was making his first Cactus League appearance since March 1 after pitching twice for Canada in the World Baseball Classic.
With Merrill Kelly slated to open the year on the injured list, the Diamondbacks rotation is set and the order is as well, though manager Torey Lovullo has yet to talk with Eduardo Rodriguez about where he slots in because he's been away pitching for Venezuela in the WBC.
Until Lovullo speaks with Rodriguez, he doesn't want to say how things will shake out behind Opening Day starter Zac Gallen, but the other starters will be Rodriguez, Ryne Nelson, Brandon Pfaadt and Soroka.
Soroka said after his outing, in which he threw 70 pitches, 48 for strikes, that he is next scheduled to pitch Arizona's final exhibition game of the spring Tuesday against the Guardians at Chase Field.
That would line him up to pitch toward the back end of the rotation.
When Spring Training opened, the Diamondbacks rotation of Kelly, Nelson, Rodriguez, Pfaadt and Soroka seemed all but set. Then four days into camp, Arizona re-signed Gallen, who had rejected a free agent qualifying offer last fall.
That meant one of those five would get left out, but Kelly came down with a back issue early in camp and though he is doing better and appeared in two Cactus League games, the time he missed made it inevitable that he would open the year on the IL.
Left and center
With Corbin Carroll presumably the starter in right field to open the season -- he hasn't played defense in a game yet but has played games at designated hitter and his right hand appears to be recovered -- the question is whether Alek Thomas or Jordan Lawlar will open the year in center with the other in left.
Drafted as a shortstop, Lawlar's lone outfield experience at the professional level prior to this spring was a handful of games in winter ball. Believing that center is the easiest of the outfield spots to learn, the Diamondbacks put him there early in camp and Thomas got some work in left.
Recently, Lawlar has seen time in left with Thomas in center. How it will shake out on Opening Day is yet to be determined, especially with Lovullo saying that Thomas' breaks in center have been elite according to the team's metrics.
"I love it though they're running balls down out there," Lovullo said. "They're going out there and playing solid defense. Who gets the start in center or left? I haven't yet figured that out."
Lawlar will likely get some reps at shortstop before the season starts just to make sure that he could be an option there if need be.
Game time reminder
The Diamondbacks moved Friday's game against the Brewers at Salt River Fields from a 1:10 p.m. MST start to a 6:10 p.m. MST start.
The move was made due to the extreme heat that has hit Arizona this week.