D-Backs’ McFarland returns to bolster bullpen

CHICAGO – Prior to Monday’s series opener against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field, Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo was excited for the return of an important “weapon” to his bullpen.

Following Sunday’s weekend finale against the Colorado Rockies at Chase Field, right-hander Silvino Bracho was optioned to Triple-A Reno and left-hander T.J. McFarland was activated from the 10-day disabled list.

McFarland has been dominant for most of this season, pitching to a 1.81 ERA over 59 2/3 innings of relief. What’s made the lefty so valuable this season, according to Lovullo, is his versatility out of the bullpen.

“He’s done an exceptional job for us in a number of different ways,” Lovullo said. “He comes in and gets outs. He’s come in during crucial situations and gotten outs. He’s allowed us to put him in there for length and coverage and I’m anxious to see how he feels and throws the first time off the DL.”

McFarland injured his neck on July 11 in a 19-2 loss to the Colorado Rockies in Denver. The Diamondbacks, whose bullpen let them down in two losses to the Rockies over the weekend, have evidently missed him.

In many ways, McFarland has been the glue to a relief unit that has experienced a good deal of success in 2018. According to Lovullo, the big lefty’s propensity to pitch effectively in myriad situations is what allows the rest of the bullpen to succeed in their respective roles.

Lovullo said the hard part of the decision was having to send out Bracho, who has begun to wear out a path between Phoenix and Reno.

In 17 2/3 innings with the Diamondbacks this season, Bracho has registered a 2.04 ERA to go along with an impressive 23 strikeouts over that span.

“Bracho has been throwing the ball well and comes in here and does everything he needed to do,” Lovullo said. “His day is coming and one day he’ll find himself here as an everyday major-leaguer.”

Right-hander Matt Koch is also here with the Diamondbacks to provide some length out of the bullpen for the time being. This could allow McFarland to pitch in more specialized situations, since McFarland has mostly been relied on for long relief in 2018.

But whichever the situation, Lovullo has faith that McFarland will answer the bell.

“He is a weapon,” Lovullo said. “He’s been telling me he’s ready for the challenge.”

Updates on Dyson, Marrero

Both outfielder Jarrod Dyson and infielder Deven Marrero have begun some sort of baseball activities as part of their respective rehab processes, Lovullo said.

And while the trajectory for each player is unique, Lovullo said both are “feeling good” and that the club is optimistic with regard to their progress.

Lovullo said both players had “decompression” days on Sunday.

“Just offloading days where they didn’t do much,” Lovullo said. “But Deven and Jarrod are in full baseball activity, just at different levels and at different paces.”

Dyson was placed on the 10-day DL with a lower-core injury on July 5 after diving for a fly ball in right field against the St. Louis Cardinals. No timetable has been set on his return, per Lovullo.

“We haven’t targeted any live BPs yet with Jarrod, but he’s trending in a very positive direction and feels good,” Lovullo said. “Running and throwing are going to b e the two areas we’re most concerned about slow-playing with him so as to not have any setbacks.”

The Diamondb acks are already employing a four-man outfield rotation among Jon Jay, A.J. Pollock, David Peralta and Steven Souza Jr., the latter of whom was the odd man out on Monday.

Marrero was shelved with a left oblique injury on June 30 and, as with Dyson, has not progressed to the point of live game action.