DIAMONDBACKS

Braden Shipley could get start with Zack Greinke out

Nick Piecoro
azcentral sports

CINCINNATI – The Diamondbacks have officially ruled out right-hander Zack Greinke for next week in Milwaukee, with manager Chip Hale saying Friday the club will bring up a starting pitcher from the minor leagues to face the Brewers on Monday.

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Braden Shipley against the Colorado Rockies during a spring training baseball game in Scottsdale, Ariz., Thursday, March 31, 2016.

Top prospect Braden Shipley, the club’s first-round pick from 2013, appears to be in line to get the start. He had been listed as Triple-A Reno’s scheduled starter on Saturday, but the Aces have changed it to “TBD.”

Greinke’s exact timetable remains unclear, but Hale said he would throw his first regular bullpen session on Saturday. Greinke threw 20 pitches off the mound, all fastballs, on Wednesday at Chase Field in what was considered a light session.

“He’s going to get up and throw a side, I think Saturday, (and it will be) full bore, a regular side, and we’ll see how he feels,” Hale said. “Then they’ll evaluate whether it’s another side after that or a simulated game or something like that.”

MORE: D-Backs reportedly weighing change at manager

Greinke is on the disabled list and hasn’t pitched since suffering a left oblique strain on June 28 vs. the Philadelphia Phillies. The club was hoping the injury wouldn’t require a trip to the disabled list, but it now appears Greinke will miss more than a month. Greinke said on Wednesday he likely would require a minor-league rehab start before returning.

When asked if the club might turn to a starter not currently on the 40-man roster, Hale said, “Yeah. It would be – could be.”

Shipley would qualify. In 19 starts for Reno, which plays in one of the most extreme hitter-friendly parks in affiliated baseball, Shipley has posted a 3.70 ERA in 119 1/3 innings, with 22 walks and 77 strikeouts.

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Shipley mostly has been pitching in the 89-91 mph range, but he said earlier this season he still has an extra gear when he needs it. According to a scout who saw him pitch at the Triple-A All-Star Game last week, Shipley was sitting 94-96 mph, albeit in a one-inning relief stint.

“I think one of the things that’s really helped me is I’ve learned who I am as a pitcher and come to the realization that I’ve got a pretty good sinker and two pretty good off-speed pitches,” he said during an interview in May. “I’m not going to try to throw a 95-96 flat fastball when I can throw my sinker at 91 and I can throw my four-seam at 92 and put it wherever I want.”

Short hops

  • The Diamondbacks have continued to get calls from other teams interested in relievers Daniel Hudson and Tyler Clippard, according to a source. Teams could view them as alternatives to Yankees relievers Aroldis Chapman and Andrew Miller, both of whom are likely to have high acquisition costs.
  • Outfielder David Peralta and center fielder/shortstop Chris Owings were in the lineup for Triple-A Reno as their rehab assignments continued. Owings, who had a scheduled day off on Thursday, entered Friday 9 for 15 (.600) with a double and a triple in four games for Reno. Peralta had gone 5 for 15 (.333) with two doubles in six games, two apiece in the rookie-level Arizona League, Double-A Mobile and Reno.

Reach Piecoro at (602) 444-8680 or nick.piecoro@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on Twitter @nickpiecoro.

Saturday’s game

Diamondbacks at Reds

When: 4:10 p.m.

Where: Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati.

Pitchers: Diamondbacks LHP Robbie Ray (5-8, 4.49) vs. Reds RHP Keyvius Sampson (0-1, 5.51).

TV/Radio: FSAZ/KMVP-FM (98.7), KSUN-AM (1400).

Ray turned in one of his better outings of the year on Sunday against the Dodgers, giving up just four hits and two walks in seven scoreless innings. … It snapped a rough four-start stretch in which he gave up 15 earned runs in 22 1/3 innings (6.04 ERA). … 2B Brandon Phillips is 2 for 2 with a home run and 3B Eugenio Suarez is 1 for 2 with a homer off Ray. … Sampson will be making his first big league start this season after seven games as a reliever. … He threw well in 56 2/3 innings in Triple-A Louisville, posting a 2.06 ERA with 19 walks and 58 strikeouts. … Sampson threw well last year in his lone start against the Diamondbacks in August, giving up one run in six innings at Chase Field.

Coming up

Sunday: At Cincinnati, 10:10 a.m., Diamondbacks RHP Zack Godley (2-1, 5.31) vs. Reds LHP Brandon Finnegan (5-7, 4.66).

Monday: At Milwaukee, 4:20 p.m., Diamondbacks TBA vs. Brewers RHP Chase Anderson (4-10, 5.50).

Tuesday: At Milwaukee, 5:10 p.m., Diamondbacks LHP Patrick Corbin (4-9, 5.23) vs. Brewers RHP Matt Garza (1-4, 5.94).