The Arizona Diamondbacks are set to give Brandon Pfaadt another opportunity in their rotation as the club looks to overcome recent pitching injuries.
The Arizona Diamondbacks are expected to welcome right-hander Brandon Pfaadt back to the major-league roster, with manager Torey Lovullo announcing that he will start Tuesday's game against the San Francisco Giants.
To make room for Pfaadt on the active roster, Arizona will need to remove a pitcher from its current nine-man bullpen before first pitch.
The outing will mark Pfaadt's first major league start since April after spending the past several weeks rebuilding as a starter in Triple-A Reno.
Another Opportunity to Rejoin the Rotation
Pfaadt opened the season as part of Arizona's starting rotation while veteran Merrill Kelly recovered from injury. However, an inconsistent start to the year, including a pair of difficult outings in his first three appearances, led to a move into a bullpen role once Kelly returned.
At the time, Michael Soroka had earned a larger role after producing stronger results, allowing the Diamondbacks to settle into a rotation featuring Kelly, Zac Gallen, Eduardo Rodríguez, Soroka and Ryne Nelson.
Arizona later optioned Pfaadt to Triple-A, where he transitioned back into a starter in anticipation of another opportunity.
Injuries Create Rotation Need
That opportunity arrived sooner than expected after injuries significantly altered Arizona's pitching plans.
Soroka landed on the injured list with a left glute strain and is not expected back until later this month, while Nelson is projected to miss extended time after suffering a partial flexor tear.
The Diamondbacks have attempted to patch the rotation in recent weeks. Rookie José Cabrera has taken on starting duties, while left-hander Mitch Bratt made his major league debut in a brief spot start before returning to the minors.
Although Pfaadt has yet to work four full innings in any of his three Triple-A starts, he has shown encouraging signs. Across 10 innings with Reno, he has allowed three runs while striking out seven and issuing only two walks.
He'll now look to translate that progress back to the majors after posting a 5.92 ERA over 38 innings earlier this season.
Arizona Chasing a Postseason Spot
The Diamondbacks enter Tuesday's matchup with renewed momentum after opening the series against San Francisco with a victory behind another strong performance from Eduardo Rodríguez.
Arizona has dominated the season series against the Giants, winning all seven meetings so far, and remains firmly in the National League Wild Card race despite battling multiple injuries throughout its rotation.
With the trade deadline approaching, the Diamondbacks are expected to explore roster upgrades as they continue their push for a postseason berth, though strengthening the rotation has become an increasingly important consideration following recent injuries.
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