Bradley again in running for D-Backs starting rotation

With Zack Godley sent back to the minors after his spot start on Wednesday night, the Diamondbacks again have a vacancy in their starting rotation, and, once again, right-hander Archie Bradley is a candidate to fill it.

The Diamondbacks entered their series-finale Thursday night against the San Diego Padres with four games left on their homestand, followed by an off day on Monday, a day off that, manager Torey Lovullo said, “gives us the ability to juggle some things.”

If the club wanted, it could keep each of its four remaining pitchers on a regular five-day schedule, meaning a fifth starter wouldn’t be needed until May 5, when the Diamondbacks are scheduled to open a three-game series in Colorado.

But Lovullo said the club is weighing its options, doing so one day at a time.

“We’re still trying to piece together, in 24-hour increments, as to what we’re doing for the five days,” Lovullo said. “We still don’t exactly know what’s going to happen for that next start. But we’re working on it. We’re trying to figure out the best solution for us.”

Bradley had another electric appearance out of the bullpen on Wednesday night, giving up one run in three innings with no walks and five strikeouts. His fastball was again sitting in the mid-toupper 90s.

While Lovullo said he sees no reason why Bradley’s stuff wouldn’t translate in a starter’s role, he added that the decision will take everything into account.

“Without having seen him start, it’s easy to say that leaving him in the bullpen would be most beneficial to this ballclub,” Lovullo said. “But where the strongest need arises, we’ll fill the gap with the best option. We’re still trying to figure out what that best option is.”

Not a consideration

Lovullo said he gave “zero” thought to the idea of leaving Bradley in the game to start the ninth inning, despite the fact that Bradley had mowed through the Padres’ lineup in the eighth inning, striking out the side.

“Fernando Rodney is our closer,” Lovullo said. “We’ve said it all along. We have a closer who has done it for a long time. That’s his role.”

Lovullo said Rodney’s potential reaction to being bypassed for a save opportunity was a factor.

“He’s here to be our closer, and I thought that if I were to pull the plug on something like that without having even one discussion about it, it probably would have left him a little bit frustrated,” Lovullo said. “Out of respect to him and what he means to this team, I would never do something like that.”

Short hop

» Left-hander T.J. McFarland had his contract purchased from Triple-A Reno, giving the Diamondbacks another fresh arm for their bullpen. McFarland, 27, had yet to allow a run in 11 innings for Reno.