Diamondbacks Management Seems Confused About Brandon Pfaadt

Pfaadt got off to a rough start in the rotation, posting a 5.94 ERA in three starts,16.2 innings. He was moved to the bullpen when Merrill Kelly returned in mid-April. The thinking was to keep him as stretched out as possible as the long man, and keep him ready if and when they needed another starter.

But owing to both Pfaadt's own ineffectiveness, and generally long outings from the starters the past month, it's been difficult to keep him stretched out. In nine relief outings, Pfaadt has thrown just 20.1 innings and posted a 5.31 ERA.

Torey Lovullo said on May 22: "I think our stretched out is going to be an up-down, four to six hitters. That will be our definition of keeping him stretched out now."

On the D-backs.TV broadcast Friday, a clip was shown of Mike Hazen saying the following:

"We're trying to work him in on a schedule, keep him somewhat lengthened out to the degree that we can. We think he's one of our best eight pitchers from a bullpen standpoint, that's why we're keeping him up here. Obviously he's still a starter, so I don't see us shortening him down."

Pfaadt Has No Answer for Left-Hand Batters

It seems likely that Pfaadt will be sent down to get stretched out again. But the harsh reality is this. No matter how they use him, Pfaadt's stuff does not work against left-hand batters.

He has completely abandoned the sweeper against left-hand hitters, as he should. The changeup has never developed into an effective weapon to combat them. He had some success with the cutter against lefties in 2025, but not in 2026.

Lefties are hitting .297 with a .935 OPS against him with six homers in 87 plate appearances this year. This has been a career-long problem for the right-hander, as evidenced by a .280 BA and .817 OPS against with 43 homers in 1,083 PA.

Pfaadt owns a 5.17 career ERA in 491 innings. He's allowed 79 homers, and over the last two years his strikeout rate has dropped to well below league average. His 4.26 career FIP is of little solace, as the big innings the second (.787 OPS) and third time (.905 OPS) through the batting order persist.

Combined with the fact that Pfaadt has not exactly been lights-out against right-hand batters either, (.746 OPS against for career) makes it difficult to see just how to use him going forward.

With Pfaadt signing a five-year, $45 million contract extension in Spring Training last year, the D-backs seem to have little recourse but to send him to the minor leagues and try to rebuild his arsenal.

When and if they do that, and how effective it will be in turning around his career remains to be seen. It's unfortunate. Pfaadt is a talented pitcher and works hard. But ultimately he'll need to start over and rebuild his arsenal, as what he has now just doesn't work.