Arizona Diamondbacks' Zack Greinke looking doubtful for Opening Day

Torey Lovullo wouldn’t come out and say it, but the Diamondbacks manager seemed to suggest that right-hander Zack Greinke is no longer on target to start on Opening Day.

Lovullo said Greinke, who departed his start on Wednesday after just one inning due to right groin tightness, will not throw his scheduled between-starts bullpen session on Saturday.

That means he won’t make his regularly scheduled start on Monday against the Chicago White Sox. It also apparently means he’s a long shot to take the ball in the March 29 season opener against the Colorado Rockies.

Greinke, though, is feeling better, Lovullo said. He played catch on Thursday and felt good. Lovullo described the severity of Greinke’s groin injury as “minimal.”

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But Lovullo said multiple times he does not want his players having to “play catch-up,” which is what Greinke would apparently be doing if he were to skip a start.

“He’s going to have to get ahead of it and be well ahead of it before he puts himself in (position to start Opening Day),” Lovullo said. “My mind-set is to not have him play catch-up for one day during the season. We want to make sure he’s strong from Day 1 until the end of the season.”

How the Diamondbacks would adjust remains to be seen. Left-hander Robbie Ray started Thursday against the Cubs. He currently lines up to start the second game of the season, but the Diamondbacks could tweak his schedule in the coming days.

Lovullo also noted that with an off day scheduled on April 1 the club has options. The Diamondbacks are also off on April 6, meaning that the first time they would need a fifth starter would be April 11. However, the Diamondbacks tend to be proactive in getting starting pitchers and extra day of rest when possible, so keeping them on a strict five-day schedule might not be their first choice.

GAME DAY: Updates from Diamondbacks spring training

Hirano progressing

In the seventh inning on Wednesday, Yoshihisa Hirano got to two strikes against an opposing hitter before doing what he had done hundreds of times during his career in Japan. He threw his forkball and elicited a swing-and-miss.

In recent outings, Hirano has begun to resemble the late-inning option the Diamondbacks signed him to be. His results still have left something to be desired – he’s given up five runs in six innings – but he has looked increasingly effective in his past handful of spring training appearances.

“I am feeling better and better with each outing, but there are areas I need to work on,” Hirano said through an interpreter on Thursday morning. “I’ve given up home runs the last couple of games and I need to work on my command a little more. At the same time, I’m learning how each hitter hits. It’s been a progression so far.”

Hirano said part of that progression has been with his signature forkball. The pitch has begun to draw off-balance swings from opposing hitters.

“I’m getting more used to the balls here, obviously,” Hirano said. “And also the mound is different here. … It’s harder here and it’s softer in Japan.”

The Diamondbacks have yet to say how they plan to use Hirano, who is one of three candidates to pitch the ninth inning, with Archie Bradley and Brad Boxberger the others.

MORE: Diamondbacks’ Shelby Miller encouraged by mound session

Short hops

Infielder Chris Owings saw action at third base late in Wednesday’s game and started at third on Thursday. Owings has played second, third and short thus far this spring.

Catcher John Ryan Murphy, who is competing with Chris Herrmann for a bench job, will start to take ground balls at third base in the coming days. Murphy has experience at third base in the minors. Increasing his versatility would help his chances of making the roster, Lovullo said.

Right-hander Jimmie Sherfy threw well in a minor league game on Wednesday and is scheduled to make his Cactus League debut on Sunday.

Right-hander Randall Delgado, who is out with a left oblique strain, has yet to begin a throwing program. He still appears likely to open the year on the disabled list.

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