Pfaadt did not factor into the decision Friday, allowing six runs on seven hits and two walks over six innings while striking out four in a loss to St. Louis.
The Cardinals jumped on Pfaadt quickly, highlighted by Nolan Arenado's three-run shot in the first inning. After they scored another run in the second, Lars Nootbaar went deep in the third. Pfaadt has been crushed for 11 runs over his last two starts, spiking his season ERA to 6.48 with a 17:3 K:BB through 16.2 frames. He's currently lined up to face the Cubs at home next week.
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Diamondbacks' Brandon Pfaadt: Offers mixed bag Saturday
Rotowire
Pfaadt gave up five runs on eight hits and a walk over 5.2 innings in a no-decision against Atlanta on Saturday. He struck out seven.
The good is that Pfaadt induced a career-high 20 swinging strikes on 87 pitches in addition to the seven strikeouts. The bad is that his final line still didn't look great, and he wasn't able to secure a win even after being spotted a 6-0 lead before taking the mound. Pfaadt now boasts a 13:1 K:BB over his first 10.2 innings this season but also has a 5.06 ERA.
Pfaadt (1-0) yielded a run on five hits over five frames Sunday, striking out six and earning a win over the Rockies.
Pfaadt cruised through four shutout innings before the Rockies finally pushed a run home in the fifth. The 25-year-old righty had just six punchouts through 10.2 frames in Cactus League play but showed better strikeout stuff Sunday. While he threw 61 of 87 pitches for strikes, only eight of those were whiffs. Pfaadt is riding momentum from the 2023 postseason and will look to keep it rolling in his next outing, which is projected to be in Atlanta.
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Diamondbacks' Brandon Pfaadt: Preps for regular season
Rotowire
Pfaadt allowed one run on three hits and struck out four over five innings in Tuesday's exhibition game against the Guardians.
Pfaadt made his first start since March 10, although he's pitched on the back fields between then and now. He finished spring training with a 6.75 ERA and a 6:1 K:BB over 10.2 innings. He's expected to start the fourth game of the season Sunday at home against the Rockies.
Diamondbacks' Brandon Pfaadt: Knocked around Sunday
Rotowire
Pfaadt allowed four runs on four hits while striking out one over 2.2 innings in Sunday's start against the Dodgers.
Pfaadt was removed after he retired just two of the first six batters and then re-inserted to pitch the second and third innings. He set down the side in order after coming back into the game. Despite the results, Pfaadt told Steve Gilbert of MLB.com that the outing was the best he felt in three spring starts. He's slotted in as the Diamondbacks' No. 4 starter.
Diamondbacks' Brandon Pfaadt: Logs two innings Monday
Rotowire
Pfaadt allowed one run on two hits while striking out one over two innings in Monday's spring start against the White Sox.
Pfaadt, who made his second Cactus League start, was pleased with the results, particularly in the sequencing of his changeup and slider, per Jack Magruder of MLB.com. "We figured some things out," Pfaadt said. "The slider is going to get better as we go. Something clicks every game, and that's a win. Fastball location, I can do better getting ahead." Both he and the Diamondbacks coaching staff are focusing on his pitch mix, which was credited for Pfaadt's success over the second half of 2023.
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Diamondbacks' Brandon Pfaadt: Works one inning in debut
Rotowire
Pfaadt allowed two runs on two hits and one walk over one inning in Wednesday's spring start against the Guardians.
Unlike previous starters making their Cactus League debuts, Pfaadt was only scheduled to throw one inning, per Steve Stockmar of MLB.com. The 25-year-old right-hander said his slider was off but it was good to get the work in. Pfaadt, who was a postseason darling last year, threw a career-high 178.2 total innings in 2023, which may be the reason to control his buildup during camp. Last spring Pfaadt was pitching to earn a roster spot, but this year he's locked into the rotation.
Pfaadt threw his first live batting practice session Tuesday, Jack Magruder of MLB.com reports.
Pfaadt is looking to build off a strong finish to the 2023 season, including the postseason in which he recorded 5.2 scoreless innings in a Game 3 win over the Phillies in the National League Championship Series. The Diamondbacks point to that game -- Arizona was down 2-0 in the series -- as pivotal to their run to the World Series. Arizona pitching coach Brent Strom credited Pfaadt's better pitch mix for the right-hander's success over the second half and playoffs. Pfaadt expected to slot in at third or fourth in the rotation, depending on where manager Torey Lovullo wants to insert left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez, who signed a four-year deal with the D-backs during the offseason. Given that the top two members of the rotation -- Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly -- are right-handers, the manager may want to break it up with Rodriguez third and Pfaadt fourth.
