Roster moves aid bullpen; Miller takes big step

PHOENIX -- The D-backs added a fresh arm to their bullpen Friday when they recalled right-hander Jake Barrett from Triple-A Reno and they are prepared to make another move so Troy Scribner can be called from Reno to start Saturday's game against the Nationals.
To make room for Barrett, who was 1-0 with a 1.23 ERA in 12 games for the Aces, the D-backs optioned righty Silvino Bracho to Reno.
"Jake Barrett has been throwing the ball extremely well in Triple-A," D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said. "Excited to see that continue here. He worked his way back from injury last year and was showing the consistently that we challenged him with at the end of Spring Training."
Barrett pitched the ninth inning and did not allow a hit, while striking out one, in the D-backs' 3-1 loss to the Nationals on Friday night. He was optioned back to Reno following the game as the D-backs need to clear a 25-man roster spot for Scribner.
The D-backs used six relievers in Thursday's loss to the Nationals and they used four Wednesday and eight Tuesday.
That bullpen usage also played a role in what the D-backs decided to do about Saturday's starter, which is the spot that had been occupied by the injured Robbie Ray.
Because the D-backs may need long reliever T.J. McFarland to give some of the other relievers a rest, they felt it was best not to have him start Saturday and instead call someone up.
After consulting with farm director Mike Bell and his staff, the club decided on Scribner, who was claimed off waivers from the Angels in April.
"The conversation and trust with player development shows up because the big league staff has really never seen [Scribner]," Lovullo said. "It was their recommendation that he could probably execute the best game plan possible, knowing that we have a particular strategy that we're going to follow."
The 26-year-old Scribner was 2-1 with a 5.68 ERA in five starts for Reno and he appeared in 10 games (four starts) for the Angels last season, posting a 4.18 ERA.
"I throw like an upper 80s [mph] fastball and a big, right-handed curveball," Scribner said. "Changeup and a cutter and I just mix it up -- anything in any count."
Good day for Shelby
Right-hander Shelby Miller, who is working his way back from last year's Tommy John surgery, threw three innings against the A's in an extended spring game Friday morning.
Lovullo, as well as several of Miller's teammates, including fellow starters Ray and Zack Godley, made the trip to Salt River Fields to show their support.
Miller "aggressively" threw 33 pitches, according to Lovullo, and finished up with 10 more pitches in the bullpen.
"Shelby was great," Lovullo said. "It was a pretty special moment for him, for all of us to see how successful today was."
In other injury news, third baseman Jake Lamb (sprained left AC joint) could begin a rehab assignment as soon as the weekend.