BALTIMORE -- The Diamondbacks are sending Brandon Pfaadt to the bullpen and optioning reliever Taylor Rashi to prepare for Merrill Kelly’s return to the rotation, the club announced after Monday’s 9-7 loss to the Orioles.
Pfaadt (0-1) has pitched a 5.94 ERA in three starts (16 2/3 innings) this season. All but one of his 87 previous MLB appearances has come in a starting role.
The move means the Diamondbacks will not be adopting a six-man rotation when Kelly makes his delayed season debut after recovering from left intercostal nerve irritation.
“Brandon was in the bullpen today, just getting a feel for it,” Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said. “And he should be gassed up and ready in the next couple days for us.”
It mirrored a challenge Monday night’s starter Ryne Nelson faced last season, one he excelled at in 10 of his 33 total outings en route to finishing 2025 with a 3.39 ERA and a 7-3 record.
“I hope that I can give him some beneficial information, just [on] how to deal with it, routines and stuff like that,” Nelson said. “Make it as easy as I can for him. Because I know it’s not fun, it’s not what you want to be doing. And it can weigh on you mentally, for sure.”
Pfaadt worked six innings and allowed all four runs -- three earned -- in Saturday’s 4-3 loss at the Phillies.
Rashi (3 2/3 innings, 9.38 ERA) was one of the relievers caught in Monday night’s bullpen struggles, allowing four runs on Jeremiah Jackson’s grand slam while retiring only two batters. He’ll likely join Triple-A Reno.
The Diamondbacks are expected to make another move soon in order to send catcher Gabriel Moreno to the 10-day IL.
Lovullo said pregame that Moreno will remain with the club for the end of the road trip.