The Arizona Diamondbacks are reportedly making emergency moves after starting pitcher-turned-reliever Brandon Pfaadt’s struggles reached a breaking point. Following Wednesday night’s loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers, the team has optioned Pfaadt to Triple-A Reno — a move that has fans and insiders questioning whether the D-backs are in deeper trouble than they’re letting on.
A Season Spiraling Out of Control
According to sources close to the situation, Pfaadt’s demotion is just the latest sign that the Diamondbacks are scrambling to salvage their bullpen. Pfaadt, once viewed as a promising arm in the rotation, was moved to relief after a disastrous start to 2025 — but the results only got worse. In his last three outings, he allowed four earned runs, pushing his season ERA to an alarming 5.92. His WHIP sits at 1.50, and his strikeout-to-walk ratio has plummeted to 1.8 — well below his career mark of 3.7. Insiders say opposing hitters are posting an .831 OPS against him, and the team reportedly had no choice but to send him down for a reset.
“It’s been a nightmare for Pfaadt,” one unnamed league evaluator told us. “The stuff is there, but the confidence is gone. This is a guy who needs to find himself again before it’s too late.”
Triple-A Shuffle: Abner and Strowd Get the Call
In corresponding moves, the D-backs reportedly called up left-hander Philip Abner and right-hander Kade Strowd from Reno — a pair of arms that could either steady the ship or sink it further. Abner, who has just 6.0 innings of big-league experience, was hammered in his only appearance this season, surrendering two runs in 2.1 innings against the Brewers. His Triple-A numbers, sources say, haven’t been much better, leaving some to wonder if the front office is simply throwing darts.
Strowd, meanwhile, is an intriguing wild card. He hasn’t pitched for Arizona this year, but he put up a sparkling 1.71 ERA in 25 games for Baltimore in 2025. His success at the big-league level, however, hasn’t translated to Reno — he owns a 4.95 ERA in the minors. “If he can recapture that Orioles magic, this could be a season-defining pickup,” one insider claimed. “But if he crashes, the bullpen could be in for a long summer.”
Clarke’s Personal Emergency Adds to Drama
To make matters even more tense, the Diamondbacks placed right-handed reliever Taylor Clarke on the emergency list due to a family matter. Clarke, who has been the bullpen’s best arm with a 1.73 ERA, is reportedly expected back soon, but the timing couldn’t be worse. “Losing Clarke, even temporarily, is a gut punch,” a team source reportedly said. “He’s been the one guy holding it together back there.”
With Pfaadt gone, Abner and Strowd now face immense pressure to prove themselves at the highest level. Could this be the shakeup that turns the Diamondbacks’ season around — or is it just a band-aid on a much deeper wound? One thing is certain: all eyes are on Phoenix as the front office rolls the dice on a revamped bullpen.
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