The Diamondbacks have made adjustments to their starting rotation ahead of the Brewers series, introducing two key changes. Eduardo Rodríguez will now take the mound for the series opener on Friday, while Brandon Pfaadt’s start has been moved. Additionally, the team will bypass Ryne Nelson’s turn in the rotation, allowing Zac Gallen to pitch in the series finale against Milwaukee.
Assuming no injuries or further changes to the rotation over the remaining 16 games, here’s a projection for the Diamondbacks’ starting pitchers for the rest of the 2024 season.
Switching Rodríguez and Pfaadt is a significant move, as it lines up the experienced left-hander to potentially pitch in the season finale against San Diego on September 29. Had the team kept the original rotation, Gallen, Merrill Kelly, and Pfaadt would have started in that series. Now, Kelly, Nelson, and Rodríguez are the likely trio.
The decision to skip Nelson’s turn stems from concerns over his workload. This season, his efficiency in retiring batters has increased, leading to more pitches and innings. He threw 2,467 pitches across 150 1/3 innings in 2023, including the postseason. In 2024, he’s already at 2,369 pitches and 147 1/3 innings, with an estimated 280-300 more pitches and 16-18 innings left in the regular season. Postseason play could push him significantly beyond last year’s totals.
The starting rotation has been a key factor in the Diamondbacks’ struggle to secure the Wild Card spot, but they’re in a solid position to lock in the No. 4 seed for the postseason. They lead their competitors by one game in the loss column and need just 14 more wins to clinch a playoff berth with 16 games remaining.
