Arizona Diamondbacks lefty Patrick Corbin says he's 'ready to go'

Update:The Diamondbacks have announced that Patrick Corbin will start Saturday.

It will be his first start in the majors since September 2013.

For months, Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale has tried to downplay the return of Patrick Corbin, his attempt at keeping expectations in check for the club's surgically repaired left-hander.

Corbin isn't buying it.

"I haven't thought like that at all," Corbin said. "I hear it. But that's not how I'm thinking. I'm feeling ready to go. I feel like my stuff is there, just as good as it was before. I'm just ready to get back into a game situation, a big-league ballgame. … I know it's going to be a different atmosphere, but I'm ready to go."

Corbin might get his chance as soon as Saturday night against the Colorado Rockies. With right-hander Allen Webster optioned to Triple-A Reno after three consecutive rough starts, Corbin looks like the most likely candidate to replace him in the rotation.

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But the Diamondbacks, for whatever reason, still were not ready to commit to that plan of action on Thursday afternoon.

"We're thinking," Hale said. "We're talking about it."

Aside from Corbin, Hale mentioned right-hander Josh Collmenter as another candidate, although Collmenter just threw two innings and 43 pitches in relief on Wednesday night against the Dodgers. Hale also made reference to "a couple of guys in the minor leagues who are performing," though he didn't name names.

Hale intimated on Wednesday the club was leaning toward Corbin, and when asked again on Thursday, it seemed as if he knew whom the club would start but didn't want to say. That led a reporter to ask Hale why he didn't just come out and announce Saturday starter.

"Well, we don't know yet, that's why," Hale said. "There's a lot of people involved and that's just the way it is."

Corbin was scheduled to pitch in one last minor league rehab start on Thursday night, but the club kept him in Phoenix instead, another indication he could get the nod.

Generally speaking, Corbin was to the Diamondbacks what Jose Fernandez and Matt Moore were to the Miami Marlins and Tampa Bay Rays, respectively. Both pitchers made their returns from Tommy John surgery on Thursday afternoon; Corbin is confident he is ready to do the same.

He said his arm and elbow feel strong, and that his fastball, slider and change-up are where he wants them to be. He said he has built up his endurance and is in game shape.

And, most importantly, he's been able to bounce back from his outings, something he had trouble doing in May, when the Diamondbacks gave him extra rest after his stuff was down during an outing at extended spring training.

"I think I overdid it my first game," Corbin said. "Going out there really excited to throw again and I may have overdone it."

But he came back a week later feeling stronger and hasn't slowed down since.

Corbin was the Diamondbacks' best starting pitcher in 2013, when he posted a sub-2.50 ERA through the first 41/ 2 months of the season before tailing off late in the year. He used a mid-90s fastball and a wipeout slider to develop into a pitcher the Diamondbacks viewed as a potential ace.

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Hale, though, doesn't want those sort of expectations on him again, at least not yet. He said he expects Corbin to have to battle nerves and perhaps command issues when he makes his return, the same way Fernandez did on Thursday.

"We expect him to compete," Hale said. "I don't think we can expect him to be at top form yet."

Hale said that once Corbin returns he will look to get him extra days of rest between starts whenever possible, but he expects the club to loosen the reins next season. Corbin is just excited for Saturday — or whenever his return will come.

"I think I'll feel maybe like my (major league) debut or something like that," he said. "I feel like I have the experience to go out there and compete and keep everything until control. I think that's something I'm going to be able to do."

Diamondbacks vs. Rockies series photos:

Friday's game

Rockies at Diamondbacks

When: 6:40 p.m.

Where: Chase Field (Roof hotline: 602-462-6262).

Pitchers: Diamondbacks RHP Chase Anderson (4-2, 3.66) vs. Rockies RHP Kyle Kendrick (3-10, 6.07).

TV/Radio: FSAZ/KMVP-FM (98.7), KSUN-AM (1400).

Anderson pitched seven innings against the Padres at Petco Park on Sunday, surrendering four runs and picking up the win in a 6-4 Diamondbacks victory. … Anderson's worst start of the season came against the Rockies on June 23, when he was roughed up for eight runs in 4 2/3 innings. … The Rockies also tagged him for five runs in 5 1/3 innings on April 27. … Kendrick joined the Rockies this season after eight years pitching for the Phillies. … He gave up five runs in 5 2/3 innings in his last outing, Sunday against the Giants. … Kendrick has faced the Rockies twice this year, surrendering eight runs and lasting only 4 1/3 innings the first meeting, an April 28 Diamondbacks win. … Kendrick went six innings and gave up four runs, out-pitching Anderson, in a June 23 Rockies win.

Coming up

Saturday: At Chase Field, 7:10 p.m., Diamondbacks LHP Patrick Corbin (0-0, 0.00) vs. Rockies RHP David Hale (2-3, 5.95).

Sunday: At Chase Field, 1:10 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Rubby De La Rosa (6-3, 4.60) vs. Rockies LHP Jorge De La Rosa (5-3, 4.59).

Monday: Off.

Tuesday:

At Texas, 5:05 p.m. Diamondbacks LHP Robbie Ray (2-4, 2.55) vs. Rangers LHP Matt Harrison (0-0, 0.00).