The Arizona Diamondbacks entered the 2026 season with another talented collection of starting pitchers. However, the five pitchers who begin the year in the rotation are rarely enough to carry a team through an entire 162-game schedule.

Arizona is waiting for Corbin Burnes to decide whether he will exercise the opt-out clause in his contract.

Regardless of Burnes’ decision, the Diamondbacks will likely lose Zac Gallen and Michael Soroka in free agency.

Gallen struggled throughout the season and also dealt with inflammation in his right elbow, creating additional uncertainty within Arizona’s pitching plans.

Those potential departures could leave Eduardo Rodríguez, Ryne Nelson, Merrill Kelly and Brandon Pfaadt as the remaining options in the Diamondbacks’ rotation.

Adding depth will be just as important as identifying the pitchers capable of leading the staff.

Pfaadt struggled to a 4.71 ERA in 181.2 innings during the 2024 season. His difficulties continued in 2025, when he recorded a 5.25 ERA in 176.2 innings.

After two brutal months to begin 2026 and a demotion to the bullpen, Pfaadt had a 5.92 ERA in 38 innings.

The Diamondbacks then sent him to Triple-A Reno for a brief tune-up. Pfaadt returned to the starting rotation after making minor adjustments and dominated for nearly the remainder of the season.

He posted a 1.88 ERA in 28.2 innings during July before producing a 2.54 ERA in 39 innings during August.

Pfaadt lowered his full-season ERA from 5.92 to a career-best 3.77 in 136 innings over 29 appearances (19 starts). He went 8-3 with a 1.18 WHIP and added two holds.

His 3.90 xERA and 3.89 FIP indicated that his improved results were deserved rather than the product of favorable luck.

Pfaadt’s response to adversity gives Arizona reason to trust him with a rotation role in 2027. He did not allow his early struggles, bullpen demotion or assignment to Reno to derail the entire season.

Instead, he used the temporary setback to correct problems and returned as a more effective pitcher.

That willingness to make adjustments became essential because continuing with the same approach had produced diminishing results over multiple seasons.

Pfaadt also demonstrated the mental resilience required to reclaim a starting job after losing it. Returning from Triple-A and immediately delivering better performances required confidence in the changes he made and discipline to maintain them.

The Diamondbacks need him to preserve that progress rather than treat his strong finish as a completed transformation. Opposing hitters will adjust, and Pfaadt must continue refining his execution to prevent old problems from returning.

His ability to work as both a starter and reliever gives Arizona flexibility, but his greatest value comes from securing a dependable rotation position.

With Burnes’ decision unresolved and Gallen and Soroka potentially departing, Pfaadt’s turnaround arrived when the Diamondbacks needed it most.