Nick Piecoro

azcentral sports

After his first pitch of the day on Wednesday afternoon – a fastball on the outer half for a called strike – Zack Greinke stole a glance at the video board at Salt River Fields: pitch speed, 88 mph.

For the second time in as many starts this spring, the Diamondbacks’ high-priced ace exhibited a fastball a few ticks below its usual range. He also was hit hard, allowing six hits in 2 2/3 innings in an exhibition against Mexico’s entry for the World Baseball Classic.

A year ago, Greinke was topping at 93 mph in his second start of the spring. On Wednesday, his fastball was as high as 89.5 mph, according to the Statcast tracking system.

“It’s still early,” Greinke said. “It is what it is. It’s still early and it’s not like some crazy, crazy thing. But it’s not ideal, either.”

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Greinke began his throwing program later this year than he did in previous springs, and he seemed hopeful that was part of the explanation for the dip in velocity. But, at 33, Greinke already has seen his stuff decline from where it was in his 20s, and it would be little surprise if it were it to continue to fall.

“Stuff has taken a dip even since last year,” a rival scout said. “Hopefully it’s just spring training and he’s working into shape. It wasn’t good today.”

Greinke started later than normal because the team gave him the leeway to set his own schedule. Early in camp, he gave odd answers to questions about his slow-played start, but team officials insisted he was healthy.

Greinke finished last season with shoulder problems that cost him his final three starts. But he says he feels fine now – and he seemed to believe his outing on Wednesday wasn’t all that bad.

“This start was way better than the first one,” said Greinke, referring to the 1 2/3 shutout innings he threw against the Dodgers last week. “That’s a good sign, always. Hopefully it just continues to get better as camp goes. There’s more than enough time for me to be ready. I don’t expect anything but to be ready. (I’m in a) pretty decent spot, especially since a lot of stuff felt really comfortable the second and third inning.”

The first inning was not good. Five of the six balls Mexico put in play came off the bat at 93.5 mph. Two were hit 100 mph or higher. After that, Greinke gave up two more hard-hit balls – one in the second, one in the third – but he said his pitch execution improved as the outing progressed.

“It doesn’t really concern me with Zack because I know he knows the process,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. “He knows what he has to get to. He knows that the velo will climb.”

The Diamondbacks brought in Greinke prior to last season, giving him a six-year, $206.5 million contract that broke a record for the highest average annual value of any deal in baseball history. They were counting on him to anchor their staff, but he struggled at times last season, posting a 4.37 ERA, the second-worst mark of his career.

They again are depending on him to rebound – both because his success is likely essential for the club to contend but also because he otherwise would be unmovable on the trade market.

Greinke averaged close to 93 mph with his fastball for several years early in his career. He averaged 91.8 mph during his three seasons with the Dodgers and dropped a half tick last year with the Diamondbacks to 91.3 mph.

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Short hops

Right-hander Archie Bradley, who was charged with six runs in 1 1/3 innings on Tuesday, was trying to focus on the positives of his outing. Among them was the fact that he said he counted three broken bats induced by his cutter, a pitch he’s started to throw again this year. “I think it’s going to be really helpful for me,” he said.

The Diamondbacks will play a ‘B’ game against the Colorado Rockies at 9:30 a.m. Thursday. The game was scheduled, Lovullo said, because they were having trouble finding innings for all of their pitchers. Lefty Anthony Banda and right-handers Zack Godley and Matt Koch are scheduled to throw.

Shortstop Ketel Marte was scratched from Wednesday’s lineup due to illness.

Reach Piecoro at (602) 444-8680 or nick.piecoro@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on Twitter @nickpiecoro.