Lovullo: D-Backs have ‘chip on shoulder’ after successive sweeps

For the Diamondbacks, the process of moving on from a horrific road trip began on Monday night at Chase Field with a familiar opponent across from them: The Miami Marlins, the same team that handed them the first three losses in what grew into a six-game losing streak.

Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo seemed to welcome the opportunity for his club to get another crack at the Marlins so soon after being swept.

“I feel like it’s an immediate response to losing three games,” Lovullo said. “I want to see what our team looks like. Hopefully, they’ve got a little chip on their shoulder. I think they do. I think we’re going to be ready to go.”

The Diamondbacks have been a volatile team through the first 5½ weeks of the season. They lost six of their first eight, played .500 ball for a week, ripped off 10-3 stretch, then dropped six in a row.

They entered Monday having gone 1-7 through eight games in May, a month that has given them trouble in recent years. In 2018, the Diamondbacks were 20-8 at the end of April but languished through an 8-19 May. They struggled again the following May, going 11-17 in 2019.

Injury updates

Right-hander Taylor Widener threw a bullpen session on Monday and felt “very, very good,” Lovullo said. It was Widener’s first time throwing off the mound since landing on the injured list with a right groin strain.

Assuming Widener feels good on Tuesday, his next step will be to throw a 50-pitch simulated game, Lovullo said, acknowledging that Widener probably will need to make at least two such appearances before a potential return from the injured list. That could put him on track for a tentative return within about two weeks.

Center fielder Ketel Marte (right hamstring strain) is expected to work out at Chase Field on Tuesday, Lovullo said.

“I know there’s going to be some excitement just to see him,” Lovullo said. “We’re going to get him on the bases in his spikes and watch him do his thing. The bat has never been the issue; it’s just mostly running and feeling comfortable post-run. Everything has been progressing very well.”

Short hops

Right-hander Levi Kelly’s season has been delayed by a shoulder issue that popped up late in minor league spring training, farm director Josh Barfield said. Kelly, who is regarded as one of the club’s better pitching prospects, underwent an MRI that came back clean, Barfield said, adding that Kelly will be delayed by a couple of weeks.

Barfield said pitchers Slade Cecconi and Conor Grammes and infielder Tristin English, all of whom were delayed by injury to open the season, are on target to report to their minor league affiliates this week.

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