NEW YORK – The Arizona Diamondbacks don’t have a bullpen problem; they have a bullpen identity crisis. The product on the field that has been coming from the D-backs bullpen has been anything but sharp and, more importantly, predictable.
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Aug 24, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Paul Sewald (38) pitches during the ninth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Paul Sewald, once the embodiment of ninth-inning calm, now looks like a pitcher fighting time as much as opposing hitters. His 4.15 ERA doesn’t just reflect inconsistency; it signals diminished reliability. The margin for error has vanished. The sense of security and nervousness has been plaguing Arizona since his return this season on a one-year contract whenever he comes out of the mound, and it must be addressed. Kevin Ginkel’s situation is even more urgent. An 8.31 ERA over just 4.1 innings isn’t bad luck; it’s a flashing red warning. When high-leverage arms become liabilities, managers are forced into reactive baseball, constantly adjusting instead of dictating.
Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Kevin Ginkel reacts after allowing Houston Astros’ Christian Walker to hit the game-winning RBI-single in the ninth inning at Chase Field in Phoenix on July 23, 2025. © Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The latest collapse, where Sewald surrendered a walk-off on Tuesday afternoon, after the tying run crossed under Jonathan Loáisiga, felt less like an anomaly and more like confirmation. Arizona’s bullpen structure is broken. Injuries to A.J. Puk and Justin Martinez complicate the picture, but they don’t excuse the front office’s lack of urgency. Contending teams build redundancy into bullpens. Arizona didn’t, and now every late inning feels like a gamble.
Jun 4, 2024; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Paul Sewald (38) throws in the ninth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
There is, however, a path forward. Emerging arms like Juan Morillo are showing flashes of composure and swing-and-miss capability. The solution isn’t complicated, as the D-backs could redistribute opportunity based on performance, not past reputation. For Arizona fans, the frustration is psychological as much as statistical. Leads don’t feel safe, momentum doesn’t feel real, and that uncertainty seeps into every pitch. Arizona’s season won’t be defined by its stars, but by whether it dares to fix what’s quietly costing it everything.
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Reporter Benjamin Bliklen covers the Arizona Diamondbacks, Arizona Cardinals, and Phoenix Suns for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @BenBliklen
