Notes: Widener working on slider; Marte OK

With Luke Weaver getting work in a simulated game Monday morning, Taylor Widener got the start against the Mariners and made the most of the opportunity.

Widener, who is battling for a spot in the bullpen, tossed 3 1/3 scoreless innings and struck out five in the D-backs' 6-2 win, while also allowing two hits and one walk.

"I feel like I had pretty much everything working today," Widener said. "I'm starting to really feel my slider again. I've been working pretty hard on it. And I've been utilizing my slider and my changeup a little more. I'm trying to not be quite as fastball heavy."

Last year, Widener had trouble throwing his slider for strikes, so he became overly reliant on his fastball. And while the heater is an effective pitch for him, he knows he needs other weapons.

"It wasn't very consistent last year," Widener said. "And so a lot of the games that I got myself in trouble, it wasn't really there. And guys weren't swinging at it because I couldn't throw [it] for a strike. So I have to earn their respect and start throwing up strikes again, to get guys to start swinging at it again."

Throughout most of his pro career Widener was a starting pitcher, but last year when he was called up to the big leagues for the first time, the D-backs had a need in the bullpen and used him in that role.

Widener's power fastball played well out of the bullpen as it ranked in the 73rd percentile in velocity in the Majors last year, per Statcast.

This spring, Widener is being stretched out as a starter while the team decides how to use him. With Madison Bumgarner, Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly, Caleb Smith and Weaver looking like locks for the rotation, it seems his only path for now is in the bullpen.

There's also a chance the D-backs could send him to the alternate site, and then Triple-A Reno to be starting pitching depth in case one of their big league starters is injured or ineffective.

Widener is keeping his focus on pitching well each time out and letting the rest take care of itself. Whether he's eventually a starter or reliever in the big leagues doesn't seem to matter to him.

"I don't really have a preference," Widener said. "There's things I like about both of them. I love the routine of starting. But I also love the adrenaline rush of hearing that [bullpen] phone ring and them saying, 'Widener get going.' So really, I just want to pitch."

Dup scratched
Right-hander Jon Duplantier was scheduled to pitch Monday, but he was scratched after he cut one of the fingers on his pitching hand while trying to put his razor together, D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said.

"We don't anticipate this being anything that's going to linger," Lovullo said. "He'll make his next turn. Whenever he's supposed to be back out there, we feel comfortable saying that he's going to be ready to go."

Marte is OK
D-backs infielder/outfielder Ketel Marte was hit by a pitch on his left foot on Monday. Even though he was removed from the game right after, Lovullo said that it was simply a precautionary move since Marte was only scheduled to play one more half-inning.

"We decided to get him out and get him iced down, but he's doing fine," Lovullo said. "No issues whatsoever."

Up next
Madison Bumgarner will start Tuesday at 1:10 p.m. MST against the A's at Salt River Fields. It will also mark the first time this spring that the D-backs will not use a designated hitter.