Cutter becoming go-to pitch for D-Backs’ Bumgarner

WASHINGTON — For Diamondbacks left-hander Madison Bumgarner, the cutter is not a new pitch. What is new — relatively speaking, at least — is how effective the pitch has been for him through three starts this season.

“I’d say it’s as good as it’s been in six years,” Bumgarner said.

Bumgarner gave up a pair of unearned runs in five innings on Tuesday in the first game of a doubleheader, a solid start that was derailed by a Ketel Marte error in the fifth that opened the door for the Washington Nationals to score twice and grab the lead for good.

But Bumgarner’s performance was notable for how often he went to the cutter. For the second consecutive start, he set a personal record for usage of the pitch. Last week against the Houston Astros, he used his cutter 53% of the time (41 of 77 pitches). On Tuesday, he threw it 63% of the time (52 of 83).

Through three starts, he has used the pitch far more heavily (53%) than he has his four-seam and two-seam fastballs combined (30%). The most he had ever used his cutter/slider was 38.6% in 2012.

“I use it like a fastball,” Bumgarner said of his cutter. “I move it around, throw it up, down, in, out. So if I’m not able to get my fastball or curveball or change-up over very effectively, then I’ll do what I did today.

“(I will) do whatever I can to get outs. I don’t care what percentages of what. That’s stupid, I think. I’m there to get outs. That’s all I care about. Some days you don’t have the other pitches or it. This was one of those days where that was the pitch for me.”

Bumgarner said the pitch has always been a sort of blend of a cutter and slider — “I think it’s in between, but nobody really wants to call it a slutter,” he said — but he acknowledged having tweaked some things about it this past offseason.

“I messed with my grip a little bit and how I was throwing it,” he said. “I think the stuff being up has helped it a little bit. But mainly just trying to fine-tune it some this winter.”

In three starts, Bumgarner has logged a 1.38 ERA (two earned runs in 13 innings), though he has issued 10 walks compared to nine strikeouts.

Injury updates

Shortstop Nick Ahmed and outfielder Jordan Luplow continued to inch closer to a return, with manager Torey Lovullo saying both players could return from the injured list during the upcoming homestand.

He did not specify whether that might happen closer to the beginning or end of the homestand. That could have do to with whether the two players head out to a minor league affiliate for a rehab assignment.

Ahmed (shoulder) had six at-bats and played six innings defensively on Monday in an exhibition game at Salt River Fields. Luplow, meanwhile, compiled five at-bats in five innings. Both players have been piling up at-bats since late last week.

“We’re still talking about that right now,” Lovullo said of a rehab assignment. “It’s a real possibility that we could see them when we get back.”

Short hops

Right-hander Edwin Uceta, whom the Diamondbacks claimed off waivers from the Los Angeles Dodgers in October, was added to the taxi squad prior to the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader, then was added to the roster for Game 2. He took the place of right-hander Matt Peacock, who was optioned to Triple-A Reno. Peacock remained with the team on the taxi squad, joining infielder Cam Duzenack.

The Diamondbacks claimed righthander Jacob Webb off waivers from the Atlanta Braves and optioned him to Triple-A Reno. Webb owns a career 2.47 ERA in 76 2/3 innings. He has not yet pitched this season due to what are believed to minor injuries.

To make room for Webb on the 40man roster, outfielder Stuart Fairchild was designated for assignment. Fairchild is the second player whom the club acquired from the Cincinnati Reds in the Archie Bradley trade to be designated for assignment in recent weeks, joining infielder Josh VanMeter.