TUCSON, Ariz. -- D-backs manager A.J. Hinch announced his rotation for the first few games of the Cactus League schedule, which begins on Thursday against the Rockies.
Billy Buckner, who is the frontrunner to nab the No. 5 spot in the rotation, will start Thursday's home game against Colorado.
On Friday, the D-backs travel to Mesa, Ariz., to take on the Cubs and will send ace Dan Haren to the mound. Haren was named by Hinch as the team's Opening Day starter just prior to the start of camp.
Edwin Jackson will start on Saturday against the Giants at Scottsdale Stadium. The right-hander is slated to start the second game of the regular season.
On Sunday, the D-backs play split-squad games against the Rockies, and Kevin Mulvey and Ian Kennedy will get the starting nods.
Mulvey is in competition for the fifth spot in the rotation, while Kennedy, who came over from the Yankees in a three-team deal last December, is the heavy favorite to win the No. 4 starter role.
The D-backs hope to work Brandon Webb into the rotation sometime around mid-March, which would allow him enough time to start the third game of the regular season.
Hinch said he will not try and have his pitchers not face National League West opponents during the spring, though, he might take another look at that during the last week of spring when the D-backs face the Rockies and Padres.
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