Diamondbacks.mlb.com

TUCSON, Ariz. -- Enrique Gonzalez was sharp in his first Cactus League outing of the spring on Monday, tossing three shutout innings.

Gonzalez is competing for the fifth-starter spot in the D-backs' rotation, along with Dana Eveland, Dustin Nippert, Edgar Gonzalez, Micah Owings and Evan MacLane. Two of those pitchers will likely make the rotation, as Randy Johnson is expected to start the year on the disabled list.

"Today I threw everything because I need to practice my pitches," Gonzalez said. "I threw fastball in, fastball away, changeup to the right-hander, to the lefty, curveball too and a slider."

Gonzalez has looked good twice now, including the team's intrasquad game last week.

"He's getting the ball inside on both the right- and left-handed hitters, and he's on the attack, and I think that's something he got away from the second part of our season last year," pitching coach Bryan Price said. "It's something that he has to have in order to compete and win a job here."