I have some reservations about this series…
Roster moves
The Arizona Diamondbacks made the following roster moves. The D-backs’ 40-man roster is at 40.
- Recalled from Triple-A Reno: RHP Yilber Díaz
- Optioned to Triple-A Reno after last night’s game: RHP J.P. Feyereisen
The bullpen churn continues anew. I do feel that having to use Feyereisen – now with an 8.31 ERA at the major-league level, since he had surgery on his rotator cuff in December 2022. That glowing 0.96 ERA for Reno looks to be a small-sample mirage. We’ll see how Diaz does as a replacement. His numbers for the Aces are hardly impressive: a 5.82 ERA and a K:BB of just 19:15 in 21.2 innings. However, it is worth noting he has pitched exclusively for them as a starter. I’d expect him to fulfill the same role here, while Ryne Nelson is out of commission after throwing 54 pitches last night. Interestingly, our last reliever to throw that many in an outing was… Yilber Diaz, who threw 71 over four innings on September 14.
I’m hoping we’ll get good Gallen tonight. His trend of alternating good and bad outing continued against the Cubs in Wrigley, where he allowed six runs in six innings. His Game Scores in chronological order this year have been 38. 81. 28. 56 and 37. So the odd numbers starts have all been below forty, and the even-numbered ones all 56 or better. There is, of course, absolutely no reason why this should be the case, but I am just happy to admire the illusion of order. After the problems in the second and third games of the series against the Rays, we could certainly do with a quality start at least – something Corbin Burnes failed to deliver, despite look truly ace-worthy in the first four innings.
Tim Tawa in the line-up again tonight, as he should be, with Garrett Hampson being increasingly sidelined. Hampson has only appeared in three of the last ten games for the D-backs, and his last complete game was April 15. Mind you, when you have fewer hits on the season than your rival for the position has home-runs, you can’t complain. I would really not be surprised to see Hampson DFA’d whenever Ketel Marte is ready to return. Speaking of health, go check out Jack’s round-up of the pitching injury situation. Interesting to hear Lovullo apparently say he think Puk will pitch again this year, which might suggest it’s not the TJ scenario we have all been expecting from these “second opinions”!