D-backs call up Jhoulys Chacin to start vs. Cardinals
PHOENIX -- The Diamondbacks on Monday called up pitcher Jhoulys Chacin from Triple-A Reno to start the series opener against the St. Louis Cardinals.
The right-hander had a 3.39 ERA and 61 strikeouts in 79 2/3 innings in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League.
Robbie Ray was scheduled to start Monday but the D-backs wanted to give the entire rotation an extra day of rest in the middle of a stretch of 21 games in 20 days. Ray will pitch Tuesday, followed by Patrick Corbin and Rubby De La Rosa.
"He's really earned this," manager Chip Hale said of Chacin, whom the D-backs signed to a minor league contract in mid-June. "We're here to win games. We want to win today. We thought he gave us the best chance to win today, giving Robbie Ray and Corbin and all these guys an extra day of rest."
The D-backs optioned Zack Godley to Double-A Mobile to make room for Chacin, and designated for assignment Danny Dorn to open a spot on the 40-man roster.
Chacin started the season at Triple-A Columbus in the Indians organization. He posted a 3.21 ERA in seven starts before he exercised an out clause in his contract.
Chacin had a 3.47 ERA with the Rockies in 2013 but was hampered by shoulder injuries last season. The Rockies still signed the 27-year-old to a $4.85 million contract in January but released him during spring training.
Hale said Chacin doesn't throw as hard as he did while with the Rockies but pitched down in the strike zone while in Reno.
Depending on how his debut with the D-backs goes, the team in the coming days will decide whether to keep Chacin in the rotation. A possible move could be to return Randall Delgado to the bullpen after his spot start Saturday at Cincinnati.
The D-backs on Monday also reinstated Archie Bradley from the disabled list and optioned the right-hander to Reno. Hale said Bradley needs at least two more productive starts -- both in terms of effectiveness and proving his shoulder is healthy -- before he could be recalled.