Zack Greinke named Arizona Diamondbacks Opening Day starter

Not exactly what you’d call a surprise, but Torey Lovullo named Zack Greinke officially as the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Opening Day starter before this afternoon’s game against the Chicago White Sox at Camelback Ranch. He’ll start at Chase Field on April 2, when we face the San Francisco Giants, and (fingers crossed) will become the fourth pitcher with multiple Opening Day starts for Arizona. The other three are Randy Johnson (6 times), Brandon Webb (4) and Ian Kennedy (3). Let’s just hope this year goes better than 2016, when Zack lasted only four innings against the Rockies, giving up nine hits and seven earned runs in his first outing as a Diamondback.

I say “Fingers crossed”, because Greinke has been eased into action this spring; unlike the other starting pitchers, he has yet to appear in a game, though has thrown some bullpen sessions. There was news on that front as well, however, Lovullo saying Zach will start Friday’s contest at Salt River Fields, where he’ll take on the Dodgers and is scheduled to throw around 35 pitches or two innings. Said Lovullo: “Out of fairness to him and what he’s done in this game we thought that it would be to our advantage to let him get ready on his own time frame... It’s about the buildup. We know that, and he’s going to be built up exactly where he needs to be built up to.”