José Cabrera’s second MLB start may not have produced the same eye-catching results as his debut, but it also showed why the Arizona Diamondbacks should continue giving the young right-hander opportunities while their injury-plagued rotation works its way back to full strength.

Arizona’s starting pitching situation remains unsettled, making consistency one of the most important qualities Cabrera can provide over the coming weeks.

Cabrera made an impressive MLB debut on June 21 against the Minnesota Twins at home, tossing five scoreless and efficient innings, as he surrendered just three hits and recorded three strikeouts with zero walks.

His follow-up outing on Saturday against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field looked much different on the stat sheet, even if his overall performance was better than the final line suggested.

The right-hander completed five innings and generally pitched well, but he was charged with four earned runs after surrendering seven hits, including two costly home runs, while striking out four and walking two.

The first home run came in the opening inning when Junior Caminero, one of the hottest hitters this year, connected on an inside pitch that was not poorly located, tying the game at 1-1.

From that point forward, Cabrera settled into a rhythm and navigated traffic effectively for much of the afternoon. His biggest mistake came with two outs in the fifth inning after issuing a walk to Yandy Díaz. On the very next pitch, Jonathan Aranda launched a two-run home run on a sweeper that broke into the left-handed hitter, giving Tampa Bay a 3-1 advantage.

Cabrera encountered more bad luck in the sixth inning when the Rays reached base with two well-placed bunt singles. Arizona then turned to Juan Morillo out of the bullpen, and one of Cabrera’s inherited runners later scored on a sacrifice fly.

Despite the disappointing final numbers, Cabrera’s overall outing shared many similarities with his successful debut against the Twins. He pitched confidently, attacked hitters, and displayed an arsenal capable of generating weak contact while overpowering hitters during stretches of the middle innings. Had a few key pitches produced different results, the outing could have looked dramatically different.

Arizona remains without Ryne Nelson and Michael Soroka, both of whom are expected to stay on the Injured List for weeks rather than days. Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly have continued to struggle, Corbin Burnes is not expected back before the All-Star break, and Mitch Bratt remains an uncertainty. At least Brandon Pfaadt will return tonight against the San Francisco Giants.

Those circumstances leave the Diamondbacks needing to fill two rotation spots on more than just a temporary basis. Arizona is not necessarily searching for ace-level production, but it does need dependable starters capable of keeping games competitive.

So far, Cabrera has done exactly that. He has avoided allowing games to spiral out of control, and his balanced repertoire gives him the profile of a dependable rotation option. It remains far too early to determine whether he is a long-term answer in the major leagues, but he has already shown enough to deserve additional starts while the organization waits for several injured pitchers to return.

Beyond the results, Cabrera has demonstrated several qualities that make him an intriguing young pitcher for Arizona’s future. He attacks hitters with confidence, trusts his repertoire, and shows the poise expected from a pitcher much more experienced than his time in the major leagues would suggest.

Even after giving up hits, he has continued to compete without letting frustration dictate his approach. That is an important characteristic for any starting pitcher expected to navigate tough situations during a game.

Cabrera is willing to make adjustments as innings unfold, an encouraging sign for his long-term development. His ability to remain efficient while mixing pitches effectively gives him a chance to work deep into games as he gains more experience consistently.

Coaches also value pitchers who remain coachable and open to refining their craft. Cabrera has already shown those traits early in his career. While there is still plenty of development ahead, his mindset, competitiveness, and calm presence on the mound give reasons to believe he can continue earning opportunities as Arizona searches for stability in its rotation.

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