SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Diamondbacks pitcher Josh Collmenter has been scratched from a scheduled Cactus League start Friday with minor tightness in his right forearm.
D-backs manager Kirk Gibson said Wednesday morning Collmenter experienced the tightness after pitching two innings Saturday, and the team wants to play it safe with his Friday start.
"It's nothing that serious," Gibson said. "We just want to err on the side of caution early in spring training. It's just some tightness. He doesn't even really feel it when he throws, just kind of when he bends his arm."
Top prospect Trevor Bauer will start the game, against the Mariners in Peoria, instead. It will be Bauer's second outing of the spring after he pitched two perfect innings Saturday.
Collmenter will throw a bullpen session Friday in place of the start. The plan is for him to throw another bullpen Sunday in hopes he's ready to start as regularly scheduled in one of next Wednesday's split squad games.
"Just (want to) make sure I get everything that I need taken care of," Collmenter said. "That way going forward from here we don't have to worry about it or anything. I wanted to make sure it didn't turn into anything serious."
Collmenter has not been held out of any workouts, but he and pitching coach Charles Nagy prefer Collmenter in the controlled environment of a bullpen session right now, as opposed to a game where he would likely be more aggressive.
"It doesn't hurt him when he's throwing, but if we start him right now and it does start hurting that's what we don't want." Gibson said.
