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Davis' debut all about pitching

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By Steve Gilbert / MLB.com

04/08/09 3:09 AM ET

PHOENIX -- The first start of the 2009 season for Doug Davis figures to be a whole lot easier than last year's in Cincinnati.

The veteran left-hander faces the Rockies on Wednesday afternoon in the finale of a three-game set at Chase Field. It's not that the opponent on the field is any easier, but rather that Davis will be battling only the Rockies this year.

Last season, Davis was not only staring down the Reds. He also was facing surgery a week later.

Davis was diagnosed with thyroid cancer prior to the end of Spring Training last year, but elected to make his first two starts of the year before undergoing surgery. Though he did his best to prepare for his first start, it was understandable that other thoughts crept into his head. Whatever the reason, it wasn't a great outing for him as he allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits over 3 2/3 innings.

"It's nice to know [Wednesday's] start is not going to be my second-to-last start for who knows how long," Davis said, referring to the uncertainty of when he would return from surgery last year. "Now I can just focus on going out and competing. It takes some of the pressure off."

Five days after his first start of 2008, in an emotional night at Chase Field, Davis was outstanding in holding the Dodgers to two runs over six innings.

Two days later, he had surgery, and after taking six weeks to recover, he was back on a Major League mound. Thankfully for Davis, there has been no recurrence of the cancer.

Davis did have some discomfort in his left triceps early in the spring that forced him to miss a start and caused some concern. But with rest and treatment, the pain went away and hasn't returned.

Davis also revealed this spring that he has had some nerve trouble in his arm for five years and takes a medication called neurontin to treat it. The problem occurs, Davis said, when his shoulder muscles get tight and squeeze the nerve. That causes him to get "zingers" from the left side of his neck down to his forearm.

But by his final start in a Minor League game last week, he reached 95 pitches and all appeared to be well.

"I feel great," Davis said. "I'm ready to go. Everything's good."

Pitching matchup
ARI: LHP Doug Davis (6-8, 4.32 ERA in 2008)
Davis was limited to 146 innings last year, his lowest total since 2003, due to a battle with thyroid cancer. This spring, he was set back with some soreness in his left triceps, but by the end of the spring he seemed to be fine. Normally Davis is an innings-eating pitcher who compiles double-digit win totals. Prior to last year he had not won fewer than 11 games in four years. He had a 4.09 ERA in two cames against the Rockies in 2008.

COL: LHP Franklin Morales (1-2, 6.39 ERA)
Morales counts as the biggest success story of the Rockies' Spring Training, bigger even than the emergence of top outfield prospect Dexter Fowler. Last year, Morales was considered the best of the Rockies' prospects. He was called up late in 2007 and helped the club to its World Series appearance. But last year, when asked to begin the year in the starting rotation, he showed poor fastball command and an inconsistent delivery. He went to the Minors in late April and did not return. It wasn't until after the year that he informed the club that he had battled back issues since Spring Training. A healthy Morales showed better command this spring, and the Rockies believe he can be dominant when he has a good fastball and mixes in a changeup that's special. But one question lingers: Does he have the patience and knowledge of himself to adjust quickly when he gets off kilter?

Tidbits
Chris Snyder will be back in the lineup Wednesday. Melvin gave him Tuesday off and started lefty Miguel Montero, because he did not want Snyder to play in a night game Tuesday and a day game on Wednesday. "Early in the season, we want to get him involved," Melvin said of Montero. ... Justin Upton is 3-for-5 with a home run in his career against Morales. ... On the flip side, Garrett Atkins is 5-for-12 in his career against Davis, while Troy Tulowitzki is 4-for-12 and Todd Helton is 5-for-9 with a homer.

Tickets
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On the Internet
 MLB.TV
 Gameday Audio
•  Gameday
•  Official game notes

On television
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On radio
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Up next
• Thursday: Off-day
• Friday: Diamondbacks (Jon Garland, 0-0, -.--) vs. Dodgers (James McDonald, 0-0, -.--), 6:40 p.m. MST
• Saturday: Diamondbacks (Brandon Webb, 0-0, 13.50) vs. Dodgers (Hiroki Kuroda, 1-0, 1.59), 5:10 p.m. MST

Steve Gilbert is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.