Left-hander Robbie Ray flew to Phoenix to be examined by neurologist Dr. Javier Cardenas, and manager Torey Lovullo said Ray is “doubtful” to start this weekend in San Francisco when the Diamondbacks are next in need of a fifth starter.

Ray was hit in the head by a 102 mph line drive off the bat of the Cardinals’ Luke Voit on Friday night in St. Louis and was placed on the seven-day concussion list the next day.

Lovullo said Saturday that Ray was going to remain with the club throughout the road trip, but he reversed that on Wednesday, saying a return to Phoenix was “part of the next step” in baseball’s concussion protocol.

Ray rode an exercise bike on Tuesday, Lovullo said, and “felt good.”

“There continues to be a decrease in the symptoms, which is a very good thing,” Lovullo said.

RELATED:Lamb, D-Backs pitchers rebound for win over Cubs at Wrigley

The Diamondbacks have not named a starter for Friday at AT&T Park, but it appears the club is lining up Triple-A Reno left-hander Anthony Banda to face the Giants. Banda hasn’t pitched since July 27, isn’t listed as Reno’s starter for Thursday and is healthy, according to Lovullo, who smiled when asked about Banda’s availability.

“We’ll have an announcement here very shortly,” Lovullo said.

Banda turned in a competitive start in his major league debut last month, giving up one run through five innings before the Washington Nationals broke through for three more runs in the sixth inning.

Banda finished having allowed four runs on seven hits and no walks with five strikeouts, showing a firm fastball – he averaged 94.7 mph, topping at 96.6 mph – and a good change-up.

Reinheimer set for first career start

Jack Reinheimer went from being buried in an organization flush with shortstops to finding himself in the majors in what seemed like the blink of an eye, and the rookie will get his first start in the majors on Wednesday night at Wrigley Field against Cubs right-hander Jake Arrieta.

“Kind of surreal,” Reinheimer said. “I’m ready to get out there and get this ball rolling.”

Reinheimer struck out in his major league debut on Tuesday night as a pinch hitter against Cubs lefty Jon Lester. He called it “quite the adrenaline rush,” noting that it was hard to settle down.

Reinheimer was brought to the big leagues after Chris Owings broke a finger and Ketel Marte was pleased on the bereavement list following the death of his mother. He said he didn’t pay attention to where he stood in the pecking order.

“I just kind of kept my head down and stayed focus on my task at hand,” he said. “I randomly got a call, and you’ve got to be ready. It’s kind of crazy, but I’m excited to be here.”

Reinheimer is known for being a slick defender but a light hitter. He was hitting .283 with a .343 on-base and .364 slugging while playing in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League.

Just in case

Part of the thinking of putting catcher Chris Iannetta at third base in the eighth inning of Tuesday night’s 16-4 blowout loss was to get a look at a player at a position where he could be needed at some point in the season, manager Torey Lovullo said.

“There have been times where we were out of infielders and maybe the next step would be to insert a catcher in the game,” Lovullo said. “… I thought it made a lot of sense to see what it looked like.”

Lovullo said Iannetta has mentioned third base as a position he could play – and he has, in fact, played it before at the major league level, appearing in four games there in his career.

And where does catcher Jeff Mathis believe he can play?

“He said second base,” Lovullo said. “But I’d probably go third base. But it’s nice to know he feels very comfortable at second base. You never know.”

BICKLEY:Diamondbacks learning that lawyers and playoff teams don't mix

RELATED:Could MLB move D-Backs over stadium conditions? Team suggests 'yes'

MORE:David Hernandez happy to be back in Diamondbacks 'family'

Thursday’s game

Diamondbacks at Cubs

When: 11:20 a.m.

Where: Wrigley Field, Chicago.

Pitchers: Diamondbacks RHP Zack Greinke (13-4, 2.84) vs. Cubs LHP Jose Quintana (6-6, 3.88).

TV/Radio: FSAZ/KTAR-AM (620), KHOV-FM (105.1).

Greinke was impressive once again last week in St. Louis, giving up just one run on four hits in seven innings. … In his past seven starts he has a 2.53 ERA with eight walks and 45 strikeouts in 46 1/3 innings. … Greinke is striking out 9.8 batters per nine innings, the second-best rate of his career. … He hasn’t faced the Cubs since his second start of the 2016 season, when he gave up four runs in six innings. … Quintana has made three starts with the Cubs since coming over in an All-Star break trade, and he has given up just five runs in 19 innings (2.37 ERA) with five walks and 25 strikeouts. … Quintana faced the Diamondbacks at Chase Field on May 24 and was hit hard, giving up eight runs in 4 1/3 innings. … Quintana is holding left-handed hitters to a .607 OPS, the seventh-best mark in the majors.

Coming up

Friday: At San Francisco, 7:15 p.m., Diamondbacks TBA vs. Giants LHP Madison Bumgarner (1-4, 2.92).

Saturday: At San Francisco, 6:05 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Taijuan Walker (6-5, 3.55) vs. Giants RHP Matt Cain (3-9, 5.37).

Sunday: At San Francisco, 1:05 p.m., Diamondbacks LHP Patrick Corbin (8-10, 4.77) vs. Giants RHP Jeff Samardzija (6-11, 4.77).