Notes: Marte activated from IL; pitching plans

For a change, D-backs manager Torey Lovullo actually had some positive injury news to share during his pregame session with reporters on Wednesday, as the club activated outfielder Ketel Marte from the injured list.

Marte, who has been out since sustaining a right hamstring strain on April 7, was 2-for-6 with a walk while playing center field in a pair of rehab games for Triple-A Reno.

"It was such a good moment to see him walk into the clubhouse doors, pass by my office and just give him a big hug and tell him welcome," Lovullo said.

Since he has played the past two days, the D-backs medical staff suggested he not immediately be placed in the starting lineup. Instead, he was available off the bench against the Dodgers on Wednesday and will be worked back into the lineup starting Thursday.

"They were pretty firm on this one and I understand the reason why," Lovullo said of the medical staff. "And I actually didn't push, but you know it's very tempting to say, 'Let's get him back in there as soon as possible as much as possible,' but that's just not going to be the part of the plan."

Marte was off to a great start to the year before the injury. In six games, he was 12-for-26 with four doubles and a pair of home runs.

Merrill gets the ball Thursday
The D-backs waited until just hours before first pitch to name starting pitchers on Tuesday and Wednesday as they dealt with injuries to Zac Gallen and Luke Weaver.

Lovullo, though, was able to say Wednesday that right-hander Merrill Kelly will get the start Thursday in the series finale at Dodger Stadium.

Kelly last pitched May 13, so he is getting an extra two days of rest this time around. He missed the final month of the 2020 season due to thoracic outlet surgery.

"Organizationally, with the amount of injuries that we've been walking through, we just felt like giving Merrill the extra day[s], knowing what he walked through last year, wouldn't be the worst idea," said Lovullo.

Speaking of starters
The D-backs have not announced starting pitchers for the upcoming three-game series with the Rockies in Denver, which begins Friday.

Taylor Widener, who is on the injured list with a right groin strain, made a rehab start for Reno on Tuesday and could slide back into the rotation Sunday.

As for rookie Corbin Martin, who made his D-backs debut Tuesday night against the Dodgers, Lovullo was noncommittal as to whether he would stay in the rotation.

"I was excited by his outing," Lovullo said. "And you know, we haven't finalized anything. But for me, when we enter into these conversations, he is somebody that that stands out to me, and we're going to have a couple of tough decisions to make."

Bumgarner feeling better
Left-hander Madison Bumgarner left his start Monday night after four innings after dealing with a left adductor spasm, but he appears to be on track to make his next scheduled start.

"I had just a little one-on-one time with him today and he said that he feels fantastic," Lovullo said. "So that was really good news for us. He was going to go out and have his normal workday today, scheduled to throw a bullpen tomorrow, so he seems to be on a good path."