Zack Greinke has a good excuse for disappointing D-backs debut

Zack Greinke didn't come close to the debut he hoped he'd have with the Arizona Diamondbacks in his Opening Day start Monday.

And that's probably because he wasn't close to 100 percent.

Sources: #Dbacks’ Greinke pitched with flu. Did not come close to missing start; decision that he would pitch was made day before.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) April 5, 2016

Greinke, who signed a six-year, $206.5 million deal this past offseason, allowed seven earned runs in four innings in a loss to the Colorado Rockies. Among the nine hits he allowed were three homers.

Last season with the Dodgers, Greinke allowed more than three earned runs in a start only twice (both times it was five runs), and he served up fewer than three homers in April, June and July last season. He led the majors with a 1.66 ERA and allowed just 14 homers in 2015.

The D-backs will hope for better results -- and better health -- in Greinke's next start Saturday against the Chicago Cubs.