CHICAGO — After suffering a 2-1 series loss and an offensive onslaught from the Milwaukee Brewers, the Arizona Diamondbacks have made roster moves ahead of their series against the Chicago Cubs.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!We have made the following roster moves: pic.twitter.com/ufgeZgdmeb
— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) May 1, 2026
The club reinstated catcher Gabriel Moreno from the injured list and recalled left-hander Brandyn Garcia from Triple-A Reno. They optioned Philip Abner and designated Aramis Garcia as the corresponding moves.
These roster changes hold more significance than just re-adding an injured player and adding an arm to the bullpen. In Arizona’s last series, the starters gave up 15 earned runs and the bullpen allowed 11 more. Needless to say, the pitching staff struggled to contain an explosive Brewers offense throughout the series.
Apr 9, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno (14) hits an RBI double during the eighth inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Moreno’s return will be significant for a pitching staff that has relied on his game-calling, framing and defensive consistency. Widely regarded as one of the club’s most important pieces behind the plate, Moreno’s strong relationships with Arizona’s starters could shift the tone against Chicago.
Garcia’s addition to the bullpen is also significant, as he will be the only left-hander reliever in the pen after Abner’s option. Before the start of the season, the Diamondbacks received skepticism over being the only club without a left-hander in its relief corps. Manager Torey Lovullo backed the decision, saying the team would rely on splits when dealing with left-handed batters.
Sep 16, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Brandyn Garcia against the San Francisco Giants at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
While that approach has worked for Arizona in some capacity, having a fresh left-hander with MLB experience could prove valuable against a power-hitting Cubs lineup.
In his time in Triple-A, Garcia has posted a 2.19 ERA through 12.1 innings with a 1.70 WHIP. While it’s a small sample size, his high velocity has helped generate swings and misses that could help against lefties at the plate.
Sep 17, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Brandyn Garcia (55) throws against the San Francisco Giants in the tenth inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images
The combination of Moreno’s return and Garcia’s recall is an effort to rebalance the roster after a tough series loss and to bounce back in the National League West race.
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Wendy Lopez is a reporter for Burn City Sports. You can follow her on her X account, @wlopezde
