The Diamondbacks will be traveling out to Goodyear today to take on the Cleveland Guardians. Right-hander Brandon Pfaadt will take the mound in a game setting for the first time since Game 3 of the World Series. Pfaadt was instrumental in the team's postseason run, allowing just five runs in 19 1/3 innings over his final four starts. That ensured him a rotation spot entering the 2024 season.
A bit of a recap on Pfaadt's repertoire, he uses a four-seamer, sinker, sweeping slider, changeup and a curveball. The sinker and sweeper serve as his bread-and-butter combination, attacking the strike zone horizontally early in the count before turning to his four-seamer to get chases at the top of the zone.
The pitch that could determine his ultimate ceiling is a mid-80s changeup, a pitch that best tunnels with his sinker and sweeper. He struggled to locate the pitch in the regular season, yielding a .409 average and .727 slugging percentage. There is some promise with the pitch as a third of the swings against it came up empty.
Lineups
The D-backs will be playing their starting outfield today, continuing the pattern of staggering the infield and outfield early in Cactus League play.
Former D-backs infield prospect Deyvison De Los Santos is starting in right field for the Guardians. De Los Santos was selected by Cleveland in the Rule 5 Draft and is learning outfield to try to stay in their lineup.
Expected Pitchers
Left-handers Tommy Henry and Kyle Nelson lead the group of expected pitchers. Henry is battling for the fifth and final rotation spot while Nelson is battling for a spot in the bullpen.
RHP Humberto Castellanos, LHP Konnor Pilkington, RHP Francisco Morales, RHP Austin Pope, RHP Christian Montes De Oca, and LHP Kyle Backhus are also listed as probable pitchers. Not all of them are getting in the game if things to go plan.
Health Updates
Yesterday, manager Torey Lovullo gave some important health updates in regards to their outfield. Feel free to check it out by clicking on the card down below.
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