With the calendar working against him, injured right-hander Luke Weaver could return as a relief pitcher to help the Diamondbacks if they remain in the thick of the National League wild-card race in the final month of the season.

“We’re hoping so,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said when asked whether Weaver could return this season. “This is good news. This is very good news. He’s very excited about how he’s feeling. I think yesterday was a strong start for getting him through his progression.”

Weaver threw off flat ground at Chase Field on Tuesday and is scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Friday, a major step forward in his rehab from a UCL strain and a sprain of the flexor pronator mass in his right elbow.

The extent of the injuries did not require surgery, which is perhaps the chief reason why Weaver has a chance to return this season at all. However, he will still need to build up a workload after weeks of not throwing.

“We’re not going to fast-forward it,” Lovullo said. “We’re not going to do anything just because he says he’s feeling good; we’re going to follow the protocol, but it’s a good sign.”

Rehabbing pitchers generally don’t find themselves in game situations until 2-3 weeks after their first bullpen session. If that pitcher is coming back as a starter, it would take another 2-3 weeks (or longer) to complete the necessary progression.

That would mean Weaver likely wouldn’t be able to return as a starter until close to the end of September. As a reliever, however, that return could come shortly after rosters expand at the beginning of the month.

“I guess as we’re counting it down and working it backwards it might be a little challenging to get him built up,” Lovullo said. “There’s a couple of schools of thoughts. We’re planning on being in this race. That’s our goal every single day and at that point we’re going to just take the best arms and collect the outs the best way we know how so that’s where we’re at and how he fits into that will be determined but how he feels over the course of the next couple of weeks.”

Lovullo also said right-hander Taijuan Walker has thrown out to 90 feet and could also return at some point this season.

“He’s pretty close to (Weaver's) program,” Lovullo said. “I think he’s a little bit behind, 10 days or so behind, but I don’t know there’s an exact number but he’s given us some really good feedback as well so he’s on the same path.”

Dyson sounds off after ejection

In response to his first career ejection on Tuesday, Diamondbacks outfielder Jarrod Dyson expressed some strong opinions on the incident and umpiring in general.

“Eight years, one ejection,” Dyson said. “That ought to tell you what type of player I am. I play the right way. I guess umpires nowadays are getting a little bit beside themselves.”

Dyson said he not only took issue with the strike-two pitch that got him rung but several calls throughout the game. Dyson said he dropped the F-word and home-plate umpire Tom Hallion dropped one right back.

“I get heated from time to time but I hold it in a little bit,” Dyson said. “Last night I got tired of it. … I didn’t even look at him I just said that’s not an effin’ strike. Then when I looked back at him, he said get in the effin’ box. … You ain’t going to rush me back in the box after a bad call like that. So I gave him a piece of my mind.”

Dyson also had a bone to pick with umpires setting up on the inside of the plate, a common practice used as a preventative safety measure for the home-plate umpire. Dyson said he believes it has an impact on how the umpire perceives the strike zone.

“When you set up inside,” Dyson said, “it’s hard to get a call right on the outside corner. That’s all I’m saying.”

Short hop

Infielder/outfielder Blake Swihart rejoined the team on Wednesday after completing his rehab assignment; he is expected to serve as a utility outfielder and third-string catcher.

Richard Morin covers the Coyotes and Diamondbacks for azcentral sports. He can be reached at rmorin@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on Twitter @ramorin_azc. Subscribe to azcentral today.