Diamondbacks seeking another quality start from Brandon Pfaadt to help tired bullpen

The Diamondbacks bullpen has worked a lot of innings in recent games, with the combinations of injuries and short starts putting extra stress on them. As such, it has led to the team needing to add reinforcements from outside the organization.

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To help alleviate the amount of stress the bullpen has gone through the last week, the Diamondbacks need Brandon Pfaadt to give them a lengthy start and pitch deep into the game. Pfaadt has been up to the task this season, going no fewer than five innings in any start and has pitched at least six innings in his last seven starts. On the season, he’s averaging more than six innings per start. They have the right pitcher for that task taking the mound.

Pfaadt has been bit by the big innings recently, which has led to his 4.32 ERA this inning. In four of his starts, opposing lineups have been able to put up three-run innings. His ability to limit the damage will be critical to keeping his pitch count down and the Diamondbacks in the game.

Opposing Pfaadt will be right-hander Michael King. Like Pfaadt, King has been a reliable innings eater in the middle of their rotation with 73 innings. With a mid-90s sinker, sweeper, and changeup combination, he misses bats and induces ground ball contact. In his lone start against the Diamondbacks this season, King held them scoreless over six innings to defeat Pfaadt in a 13-1 Padres win.

Starting Lineups

Game Notes

Diamondbacks

• Lourdes Gurriel Jr. is not in the starting lineup. He was right in the left elbow by a pitch in the first inning of Thursday’s game. He has the most experience facing King from their days in the American League East, going 4-for-16 at the plate.
• Brandon Pfaadt’s lone start at Petco Park was impressive, tallying seven scoreless innings on August 18, 2023. The Diamondbacks were unable to give him any run support in a 4-0 loss.

Padres

• Fernando Tatis Jr. carries a 12-game hitting streak into this game. In that stretch, he is 22-for-49 (.449) with three doubles and two home runs. Tatis has a career slash of .337/.403/.725 with 18 home runs in his career against the Diamondbacks.
• Jake Cronenworth is 4-for-9 with four singles against Pfaadt. Luis Arraez is 5-for-7.
• Former Diamondback David Peralta is the starting DH for the Padres. Peralta spent nine seasons in Arizona (2014-2022), hitting .283 with 110 home runs and 15.3 WAR in 961 games.

Bullpen Situation

Diamondbacks

The Diamondbacks will be without those closer, Paul Sewald, who has pitched in four of the past six days. Due to the sheer number of close games, winning all those games, the back end of the bullpen has pitched a lot of innings. They may need to piece it together for the final three innings between Kevin Ginkel, Joe Mantiply, Justin Martinez, and Ryan Thompson, although Ginkel has also worked a lot of late as well as the bridge between a short start and the back of the bullpen.

The Diamondbacks will also be without Logan Allen, but Humberto Castellanos is available for long relief. Bryce Jarvis and the recently acquired Thyago Vieira are low-leverage options for this game.

Padres

With Randy Vásquez pitching 6 2/3 innings, the Padres bullpen is in excellent shape for this game. Enyel De Los Santos might be the only unavailable arm after pitching an inning against the Diamondbacks Thursday night for his second outing in three days. Closer Robert Suárez has not worked in five days, Stephen Kolek in at least six days, and Jhony Brito has pitched once in the last six days.

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Michael McDermott covers the Arizona Diamondbacks and Arizona Cardinals for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on X via @MichaelMcDMLB