Brandon Pfaadt makes history in rough start for Diamondbacks

Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Brandon Pfaadt had appeared to have taken that next step forward this season.

A consensus top 100 prospect heading into the 2023 season, Pfaadt was in the midst of his best major league season entering Saturday night. He had posted a 3.90 ERA and a 1.219 WHiP in his 62.1 innings, striking out 49 batters with 15 walks. His seven wins were tied for the major league lead as he took the mound against the Nationals.

There were some warning signs. Pfaadt entered Saturday with a 4.93 FIP and had allowed 15 homers in his 62.1 innings. His 50.3% hard-hit rate against and 18.8% strikeout rate were the worst of his career. Regression had to be expected.

Regression hammered Pfaadt on Saturday. After hitting Washington shortstop CJ Abrams with a 0-2 pitch, Pfaadt unraveled. He allowed eight runs on six hits and two hit batters, failing to record an out as the Nationals scored 10 runs in the first inning.

That outing marked the seventh time in major league history that a pitcher allowed eight or more earned runs without recording an out. Pfaadt is the fourth starter to have such an outing, joining Blake Stein (1998), Paul Wilson (2005) and Carlos Rodon (2023). It is also the second time it happened this year as Cubs' reliever Ryan Pressly allowed nine runs, eight earned, without recording an out during the 11th inning of Chicago's 14-5 loss on May 6.

With that outing, Pfaadt now has a 5.05 ERA and a 1.316 WHiP on the season. He will look to put this outing behind him in his next start, currently scheduled to be on June 6 against the Reds in Cincinnati.