Notes: D-backs finalizing pitching staff; Kelly shines

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- There are several decisions that manager Torey Lovullo still has to make before the D-backs set their roster for Opening Day on Thursday. Among them is whether to carry 15 pitchers and 13 position players or go with an even 14/14 split, as rosters will be expanded to 28 players through May 1.

Although Arizona’s roster hasn’t been finalized, the pitching staff is coming into focus. And it may even already be set, if the team opts to carry 15 pitchers.

On Saturday, the D-backs optioned left-hander Tyler Gilbert and right-hander Taylor Widener to Triple-A Reno. That leaves five clear starters and 10 relief options in big league camp, which means Arizona’s pitching staff could look like this to open the 2022 season:

Starters (5): Madison Bumgarner, Zach Davies, Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly, Luke Weaver

Relievers (10): Mark Melancon (closer), Humberto Castellanos, Ian Kennedy, Joe Mantiply, Corbin Martin, Oliver Pérez, Sean Poppen, Noé Ramirez, Caleb Smith, J.B. Wendelken

The rotation shouldn’t change. Weaver exited his Cactus League start against the Padres on Thursday due to a blister/cut on the first knuckle of his right thumb, but Lovullo said on Saturday that the right-hander is unlikely to miss time to start the season.

If the D-backs opt to carry only 14 pitchers, then they could send one of those relievers (potentially Castellanos or Martin) to the Minors before Opening Day.

“We’re still walking through a whole bunch of different factors, and we want these guys to compete all the way up until the last minute and we’ll put it together at that point,” Lovullo said. “We had to send out a couple really good pitchers today. That, to me, it says where we are as a pitching staff and as an organization.”

Gilbert and Widener can both start or pitch in relief, so they’ll provide important depth for Arizona and will likely each appear in the Majors at some point in 2022.

Spring Training is shorter this year, which is why rosters will be larger in April. And it’s why the D-backs are considering a potential 10-man bullpen.

“I think it’s finding out how far we can get guys stretched out, needing extra length or extra pitchers inside of that bullpen so we don’t start tapping into some of our back-end guys unless we’re ahead,” Lovullo said. “I think we can be a little more versatile if we have that extra pitcher.”

Kelly strong in final Cactus tune-up
A day after signing a two-year extension with the D-backs, Kelly made his final start of the spring on Saturday night, tossing four strong innings in an 8-4 win over the White Sox at Salt River Fields. The right-hander struck out five and allowed only one unearned run on one hit while throwing 62 pitches (39 strikes).

Kelly made only two Cactus League starts this spring, but both outings were stellar. He previously struck out eight over three perfect innings against the Giants on March 23.

“I feel good,” Kelly said. “Obviously, the most pitches today, got a little tighter toward the end, but I think that’s normal just building up and also going from the day games to the night games, it takes a little bit to adjust.”

Opening Day starter announcement on horizon
Lovullo wasn’t quite ready to name the D-backs’ Opening Day starting pitcher on Saturday, although he indicated that an announcement will be coming soon.

“I just need to finalize some conversations with the staff and the player himself,” Lovullo said.

It would be a surprise if Bumgarner isn’t on the mound at Chase Field to face the Padres on Thursday. The 32-year-old left-hander has made seven Opening Day starts in his career -- five with the Giants (2014-17, ’19) and two for the D-backs (2020 and ’21).