SAN DIEGO -- Right-hander Taylor Clarke will return to the D-backs to start Saturday at San Francisco, manager Torey Lovullo said.

Lovullo revealed the decision Wednesday afternoon after Arizona’s 5-2 loss to the Padres at Petco Park. He waited until after the game, just in case there was a rainout and the rotation could be pushed back a day. While rain hit Petco Park in the third inning and continued intermittently during the game, the teams played through it.

Clarke, 26, is the D-backs’ No. 10 prospect in the MLB Pipeline rankings. He made his big league debut April 20 at Wrigley Field and earned a three-inning save. Clarke made his first Major League start May 7 on the road against the Rays and took the loss despite delivering a quality start, with two runs allowed in six innings.

“That’s a name we’re all very familiar with,” Lovullo said. “Taylor’s throwing the ball extremely well. When he’s come up, he’s executed the right kind of game plan.”

Overall, Clarke has a 2.00 ERA in nine big league innings and a 7.22 ERA in 33 2/3 innings with Triple-A Reno. He pitched 4 2/3 innings for Reno on Monday, so Saturday will be his natural pitching day.