Behind Pfaadt, D-backs' bullpen ready for critical Game 3

PHOENIX -- It’s been quite the journey for Brandon Pfaadt in his rookie season, but Thursday afternoon at Chase Field will be the toughest challenge of his young career.

After splitting time between Triple-A and the Majors at the beginning of the season, Pfaadt adapted to pitching against big league hitters. He proved to D-backs manager Torey Lovullo that he was worthy of pitching in two postseason games, and he now gets the start in a crucial Game 3 of the National League Championship Series, with Arizona trailing 2-0.

“I think we've gone through adversity in the regular season before, and we know how to bounce back,” Pfaadt said Wednesday. “And that's what we're going to plan on doing tomorrow, and like I said, get that momentum back on our side in our home ballpark and see if we can make a run.”

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The biggest difference in Pfaadt’s start on Thursday against the Phillies, who dominated Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly, is this is the closest the D-backs have been to elimination. It’s a pressure Pfaadt didn’t feel when he faced the Brewers (Wild Card Series Game 1) and Dodgers (NL Division Series Game 3).

Of Pfaadt's two postseason starts, his longest outing was 4 1/3 scoreless innings against Los Angeles. Lovullo said during Wednesday's workout at Chase Field that he intends to limit Pfaadt's workload to about 40 to 50 pitches.

Lovullo also revealed that he plans on having a length pitcher open Game 4 on Friday, with Slade Cecconi or Ryne Nelson as possible options. Regardless, it’s going to be an all-hands-on-deck effort from the bullpen in the next two games. The D-backs' skipper expects every pitcher in the 'pen to rise to the occasion.

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“That's my mindset,” Lovullo said. “Every one of us needs to be better, right? You start from me on down. That's where we need to go to get this thing right.

“You know, the order of guys, I don't want to give you the order of guys, but everybody knows what their roles are. They know where they've got to be. They know who is on the very back end and what their responsibilities are.”

The bullpen struggled with its identity throughout the regular season and didn’t have a stable closer until Arizona acquired Paul Sewald at the Trade Deadline.

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Through it all, Kevin Ginkel is one of the few pitchers from the Opening Day roster who has remained consistent, and he has been pitching his best lately. The 29-year-old finished the regular season with a 2.48 ERA and a 27.5 percent strikeout rate, which ranked third among all qualified D-backs relievers.

Miguel Castro threw the third-most innings of all D-backs relievers and can be used in both high- and low-leverage situations. Joe Mantiply, Arizona’s only All-Star in 2022, battled through different injuries but ended the season on a high note, posting a 3.86 ERA in 22 appearances since being recalled on Aug. 1.

“I think we're just relying on one another,” Ginkel said. “Each guy is going out there with the goal to pick the next guy up. It’s not like we didn’t do that during the regular season, but we're in the postseason now. We all want to be our best, and even prior to that, we've been pitching really well for the last two months of the season.”

The D-backs' bullpen had the third-best ERA (2.31) in the Majors in September/October and played a huge role in them sneaking into the NL Wild Card. Around the same time, Arizona started getting more contributions from late-season roster additions. Ryan Thompson, whom the D-backs signed on Aug. 19 after he was released by the Rays, allowed one run in 13 appearances. Andrew Saalfrank debuted on Sept. 5 and has yet to allow an earned run, including in the postseason.

“They've been unbelievable for this team,” Ginkel said. “I like them as people, too. They just do it the right way, and they go out and they battle. The results have been there and it's just been really fun to see, and hopefully, we keep it going.”

The good news is Ginkel, Thompson and Sewald had a full week of rest. Saalfrank only needed one pitch in his appearance on Tuesday. Having those four at their best is key to the D-backs making a comeback in the NLCS.

Before Tuesday, Arizona’s bullpen had a 1.54 ERA in six games and had yet to allow a home run in the postseason.

“Everybody needs to be as good as they can possibly be,” Lovullo said. “I want everybody to do their job the best way they know how, be great at it, and not worry about the guy next to them. That's kind of one of our thoughts throughout the course of the season.”