PEORIA, Ariz. -- Testing his arm Sunday after being scratched from a start Friday, Diamondbacks pitcher Josh Collmenter felt no pain and is expected to start Wednesday.
Collmenter was held out of his previous scheduled start with right forearm tightness, though the move was mostly precautionary, as Collmenter said the injury was not that serious. Collmenter threw a bullpen session Sunday morning at Salt River Fields and reported no issues afterward, D-backs manager Kirk Gibson said.
"He feels good," Gibson said. "We'll make sure he feels OK tomorrow."
As long as Collmenter doesn't experience any pain in the next couple of days, he'll get his second start of the spring. He felt fine during his first outing, but the initial tightness popped up after the start. Gibson has not yet determined which of two spilt-squad games Collmenter will start Wednesday.
Trevor Bauer, who gave up two runs in three innings Friday in place of Collmenter, might also get a start Wednesday in the other game. It would be Bauer's third start of spring training. Gibson still hasn't decided for sure if Bauer will get the call and also mentioned youngsters Wade Miley and Patrick Corbin as possibilities.
Bauer's starts have generated a good deal of buzz this spring, even though he's not expected to make the Opening Day roster. Collmenter is the projected fifth starter, but the D-backs appear to be leaving the door open for Bauer just a bit. The 21-year-old is in no rush and not concerning himself much with the team's personnel decisions.
"I'm just worried about myself, trying to get better," Bauer said Friday. "I don’t know if I'm ready for the major leagues or not. I just try to learn and get better every time I go out.
"The organization will decide what's best for them to win a World Series, and if I fit into it, great. If not, great. I'm going to keep trying to get better as a pitcher."
CUTS COMING
Gibson said Sunday that the team will have to start making some cuts from major league camp as players start going deeper into games. Pitchers in particular will be looked at as starters begin lengthening their outings.
"We can't keep everybody," Gibson said. "We're going to run out of innings. So we have to make some moves there."
Gibson said he hasn't yet decided the best course of action for handling his pitching staff at this point in camp. His decision appears centered around relievers and prospects such as Bauer, Corbin and Tyler Skaggs.
"If we keep the young kids with us then you have to get rid of more relievers, because there won't be enough innings for them," Gibson said. "If we don't keep those guys and send them down, we'll have more room for relievers."
The D-backs have only made one move in big league camp so far, optioning young reliever Yonata Ortego to Double-A Mobile last week. As always, Gibson is taking a "wait-and-see" approach to his roster, knowing much can change before Opening Day arrives.
"We don’t know how we're going to attack the season today," Gibson said. "I do believe there will be some impactful contributions from people we all don't know about today."
HUDSON FINDS COMMAND
After giving up three runs (two earned) in his first spring start, Daniel Hudson wasn't particularly pleased with his command. There was little for him to be upset about in his second outing, though, as he held the Padres hitless in three innings Sunday.
"I had better command on the inside part of the plate," Hudson said. "Not necessarily for strikes, but close enough to where I was making them aware that I was hitting that spot today. Just better overall command of everything."
Hudson struck out three batters and worked efficiently, only needing 30 pitches to get nine outs. Hudson was happy with the dominant day but kept his performance in perspective.
"I can just hopefully build off and get better next time," Hudson said. "There's no reason why I can't get better with everything. You can't be complacent in this game, even though it's just spring training."
SUNDAY'S RESULT
The D-backs hitters backed Hudson's strong start early, as catcher Henry Blanco plated two runs on a second-inning homer and second baseman Aaron Hill doubled in a run the next inning.
The lead evaporated, as the Padres got to D-backs relievers for six runs, including three off both Craig Breslow and Brad Ziegler, but the D-backs rallied in the final two innings for an 8-7 win, with the go-ahead run coming on a wild pitch.
D-backs third baseman Ryan Roberts stayed hot, reaching base three times Sunday. He was hit by a pitch, walked and singled while also stealing two bases.
With the win, the D-backs are now 3-5-1 in Cactus League play.
NOTES
The D-backs meet the Cleveland Indians in Goodyear on Monday, with lefty Joe Saunders making his second start of the spring. He allowed two runs on five hits in his first start last week. Other available pitchers include Zach Kroenke, Joe Martinez, and Bryan Shaw. ... Top prospect Tyler Skaggs will get another look in relief Tuesday after giving up a grand slam and four walks in his first appearance last week. ... Bauer has been the most buzzed-about pitching prospect in camp this year, but the D-backs had another first-round pick in the dugout Saturday night. Gibson asked right-hander Archie Bradley, who was picked seventh overall last June, to come watch Saturday's game but not to pitch. ... After making his spring debut Friday, closer J.J. Putz is expected to pitch again Wednesday, matching his Cactus League appearance total from 2011.
