More of the same as yesterday? Don’t mind if we do…
One of the reasons the D-backs bullpen has been good is, I suspect, stability. Here we are, approaching twenty games in the season, and the relievers we have are exactly the same relievers with whom we started the season. That’s less common than you might think. Last year, we had used ten different relievers through the first twenty games. In 2023 the same figure was thirteen, and in 2022 Arizona had used almost as many relievers as games, with a whopping eighteen through twenty games (admittedly, including Carson Kelly!) – more than two entire bullpens. You have to go back to 2017 to find an unchanged bullpen to that point. And only just, with Silvino Bracho then arriving to pitch in game #21.
We’ll see how long it lasts – I have probably jinxed them by mentioning it! I was getting a bit worried about the absence of Shelby Miller, but he showed up yesterday, though Jack mentioned Miller had been feeling under the weather for a few days. Of course, not all change is necessarily bad. The team has Kevin Ginkel and Kendall Graveman rehabbing at the moment, so getting their arms back should be a positive. But I note the rotation has also remained 100% intact. The only roster move needed so far has been the replacement of Ketel Marte by Tim Tawa: while a big one, it’s certainly impressive that has been the sole change required to date. Long may that continue.
This afternoon, staff ace Brandon Pfaadt takes the mound. That’s not particularly being snarky either, since his ERA (3.50) is the lowest among out starters. On the other hand, his FIP of 5.08 is higher than anyone bar Corbin Burnes. Brandon’s walk-rate has been good with only three allowed over his eighteen innings to date. But 12 K’s is pretty mediocre. It’s a little odd, since both his strike-rate and his swinging strike-rate are a little above the MLB average. But his Baseball Savant page is rather more blue-tinged than I would like to see, which does not augur well for the breakout season we’ve been anticipating for a while now. Hopefully today will be of help.