Diamondbacks notebook: Owings to start Thursday

LOS ANGELES - Micah Owings knew the Diamondbacks faced a decision on their Thursday start, but he also understands the futility of trying to look too far ahead.

“It’s always in the back of your mind, but it’s something you can’t concentrate on.

That’s been my approach as long as I can remember,” said Owings, who will start the D-Backs’ game against the New York Mets on Thursday with Edgar Gonzalez moving to the bullpen.

“You can’t look too far ahead. Look at what happened the last time we faced the Dodgers. My leg was feeling great. I round second … who would have thought that would happen?”

Rookie Owings will be activated from the disabled list Thursday after suffering a hamstring injury when he pulled up while rounding second base on April 17.

Owings is 1-1 with a 2.93 ERA in three starts, pitching five shutout innings in his major league debut at Washington on April 6.

Gonzalez, who won a job in the rotation when Randy Johnson was delayed while recovering from back surgery, is 1-2 with a 4.45 ERA in five starts.

“We feel like we have six good big league starters for five spots, and somebody is going to have to pitch out of the bullpen,” manager Bob Melvin said.

“We debated it internally and decided to give Micah the opportunity,” general manager Josh Byrnes said.

Gonzalez has given up eight home runs in 30 1-3 innings, tied with the Cubs’ Carlos Zambrano and Texas’ Vicente Padilla for the most in the major leagues entering Tuesday.

“It’s hard for me,” said Gonzalez, who has started 22 of his 36 major league appearances. “Whatever happens, I’ll be fine because I’m in the big leagues.”

GOING THE RIGHT WAY

Chris Young’s leadoff home run to right field Monday reinforced hitting coach Kevin Seitzer’s all-fields approach.

“An opposite-field home run got a monkey off his back. It got me off his back. You can call me the monkey,” Seitzer said, smiling.

“As good as his hands are, if he just thought about trying to stay up the middle …”

SHORT HOPS

Conor Jackson (right index finger) will get a start today, Melvin said, his first since suffering his injury Sunday. …

Super agent Scott Boras, who lives in Newport Beach and lunched with presidential candidate John Edwards last month, said he is open to more conversations with the D-Backs regarding 2006 No. 1 draftee Max Scherzer, who recently signed with the independent Fort Worth Cats and could go back in the draft if the D-Backs do not sign him by May 31. “I’ll talk to them any time they want to talk. It’s not a matter of not wanting to get together,” Boras said. …

Jeff DaVanon (right shoulder) hit left-handed in batting practice, ran the bases and made throws from the outfield Tuesday, showing progress. “He made some strides,” Melvin said, adding “probably his biggest hurdle now is throwing. He could swing in a game right now.” …

Melvin held Stephen Drew out of the lineup with a tender right hamstring.