The Diamondbacks Pitching Needs to FIGURE IT OUT

The Locked On Diamondbacks podcast dissects a troubling trend of blowout losses, identifying starting pitching inconsistency as the core issue. Host Dana Biggs analyzes recent games, noting that six of the team's seven blowout losses stemmed from poor starting pitching performances—particularly from Ryan Nelson, Merrill Kelly, and Zach Gallin—often due to explosive innings that derail games early. The bullpen is overworked as a result, with position players like James McCann pitching multiple times in a short span, signaling deeper roster strain. Despite some positive developments—such as Gabriel Moreno's return from the injured list and the brief call-up of promising pitcher Philip Abner—the team remains in a precarious position. The episode previews an upcoming three-game series against the competitive Cubs, emphasizing the need to win at least five of nine games against the Brewers, Cubs, and Pirates to establish competitiveness. The hosts stress that the team must prove they can remain competitive even without key players, setting the stage for a potential postseason push if they can stabilize their starting rotation and bullpen usage. Key takeaways include: 1) Starting pitchers must go deeper into games to reduce bullpen strain; 2) The team’s success hinges on consistent mid-inning adjustments and pitch efficiency; 3) Gabriel Moreno’s return is a positive sign for offensive and defensive cohesion; 4) The upcoming Cubs series is a critical opportunity to rebuild momentum; 5) Overuse of bullpen arms and position players in relief is unsustainable; 6) The team must win at least five of the next nine games to prove competitiveness; 7) Roster moves like calling up and optioning pitchers (e.g., Abner, Brandon Garcia) reflect ongoing load management; 8) The long-term goal is to be a buyer at the trade deadline, not a seller, by showing resilience during injuries.