Pfaadt a 'very big presence' as D-backs blank Padres

SAN DIEGO -- The old Brandon Pfaadt may just be back.

The Diamondbacks optioned Pfaadt to Triple-A Reno to both get his pitch count built back up as a starter, but also to try and locate the form that just a year ago had the organization looking at him as a foundational piece.

On Monday, Pfaadt dominated the Padres' lineup, tossing five scoreless innings while allowing just four hits and did not walk a batter. He struck out six as the Diamondbacks rolled to an 8-0 win at Petco Park.

In two starts since returning from Reno, Pfaadt has allowed one earned run over 10 1/3 innings.

Pfaadt struggled in his first three starts, compiling a 5.94 ERA, and when the team needed to make room for Merrill Kelly in the rotation, Pfaadt was the odd man out and was shifted to the bullpen.

The plan at that time was similar to what the Diamondbacks did with Ryne Nelson a year ago -- keep Pfaadt stretched out enough with long relief appearances so that he could jump back into the rotation if need be.

But unlike with Nelson, the Diamondbacks were unable to get Pfaadt consistent work, and after 10 appearances out of the ‘pen, he had a 5.92 ERA and the decision was made to send him to Reno, where he could go back to starting.

It proved to be a wise decision on several fronts.

First, the Diamondbacks found themselves in need of starters after Nelson and Michael Soroka went down with injuries. And second, Pfaadt was able to get a reset in Reno, where he made three starts and had a 1.80 ERA in those games.

When he returned to the big leagues, there was a noticeable change in his presence and confidence on the mound. While that is hard to quantify, it shows up in the fact that he was more aggressive in attacking the strike zone.

"You can feel it," Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said of Pfaadt's confidence. "He's driving fastballs. He's not picking at the zone. I think there's just a very big presence on the mound now, where he's feeling like any pitch [he] can throw now is going to be located, and it's going to be a quality pitch. I think he's doing everything with conviction."

Pfaadt got plenty of run support early, with the Diamondbacks scoring a pair of runs in the first inning and then another four in the third, three of which came on Max Kepler’s first homer in an Arizona uniform.

"Obviously, a big lead helps with [attacking the zone]," Pfaadt said. "I think we got away from it earlier in the season, but kind of just getting back onto that and making that a priority is the key, and we see that it's working. So, we'll keep doing it."

The Diamondbacks certainly hope that he does, and the results keep being the same as well.

With Zac Gallen and Kelly both still trying to get their footing on the mound and the injuries to Nelson and Soroka, a revival by Pfaadt would really help stabilize the rotation.

"We know what he's capable of doing," Lovullo said. "[He can] add some stability in an area that I think we need it in very badly."

Pfaadt changed his delivery slightly at Reno, and he no longer raises his hands over his head, a habit he said he picked up for an unknown reason when he was around 9 years old and just stuck with it.

In his first start in Reno, he just stopped doing it on his own and had success, so he just stuck with it. But again, it comes down to more of a change in mentality.

"I know earlier in the year we didn't really have feel when we weren't pounding the zone as much," Pfaadt said. "So I think there's a direct correlation to that, and I think just getting back to that is huge.”