PHOENIX -- With the D-backs only 2 1/2 games back in the race for the second National League Wild Card entering Monday and key games coming up against their chief postseason competitors, the club shook up its bullpen before its series opener against the Phillies.

Arizona designated veteran Zack Godley for assignment and optioned right-hander Taylor Clarke to Triple-A Reno.

Right-handed reliever Kevin Ginkel and lefty reliever Robby Scott were promoted from Reno.

Godley, who opened the year in the D-backs' rotation before being demoted to the bullpen, had a 6.39 ERA in 27 games (nine starts). The team had hoped that the shift to the bullpen would help him turn his season around.

“It just wasn’t working,” D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said.

When a player's contract is designated for assignment -- often abbreviated "DFA" -- that player is immediately removed from his club's 40-man roster, and 25-man roster if he was on that as well. Within seven days of the transaction (it was previously 10 days), the player must either be released or placed on irrevocable outright waivers.

Lovullo acknowledged the close postseason race played a role in the urgency to make the move. He said that during his D-backs tenure, August is “moving month,” the time when the team establishes itself as a contender or not.

After the three-game series vs. the Phillies, the D-backs go on the road to play the National League West-leading Dodgers, their first of seven remaining games against them. They also have six games this month against the Giants.

In addition, the D-backs travel to Milwaukee for three games against the Brewers, another team in the NL Wild Card race.

“There’s very little wiggle room right now,” Lovullo said.

Clarke showed improvement in his last three starts, but with the Trade Deadline acquisitions of Mike Leake and Zac Gallen, along with the way fellow rookie Alex Young has pitched, Clarke became the odd man out.

Ginkel, 25, is 1-0 and a perfect 6-for-6 in save chances this year for Reno after compiling a 2.16 ERA in 14 games for Double-A Jackson.

“He’s pounded the door down to make this happen by his performance,” Lovullo said.

Scott, 29, did not have good numbers at Reno, posting a 6.51 ERA, but given the difficulty of pitching in the Pacific Coast League, the D-backs focus more on how a player is throwing. And the reports from the player development department was that Scott is throwing the ball well.