Jordan Bratt’s first MLB win came with the kind of outing that makes a pitcher look like he belongs right away.
Bratt beat Casey Mize in the Diamondbacks’ win over the Padres, and he did it with a performance that had him talking afterward about how far the moment still felt from fully settling in.
“It’s great,” Bratt said. “It’s a surreal feeling, to be honest.
I don’t think it’s going to sink in for quite some time. But just thankful for [catcher James McCann] and thankful for everybody that’s been a part of this journey to get to this point.”
The line about not being able to feel his legs came from the day’s headline, and the outing backed it up. Bratt came through in a sharp duel against Mize, while the Padres’ starter had a rough debut after the trade deadline.
Mize was charged with a career-high eight earned runs, leaving him to call the night “Frustrated and embarrassed.”
Arizona also made a roster move on the pitching side, sending Ryan Thompson to the injured list and recalling Philip Abner.
There was more pitching news tied to the organization as well, with Michael Soroka and Justin Martinez both turning in their first rehab games.
Around the league, Kyle Harrison struck out eight straight batters in his return from the injured list for the Brewers before leaving with calf cramps.
And in baseball’s other notable pitching line of the day, Casey Mize’s outing stood out for the wrong reasons after the trade deadline move.
In Other News...
Diamondbacks Send A Clear Message With Latest Padres Lineup Shift
The Diamondbacks latest lineup against the Padres came with a few telling adjustments, starting with scheduled rest days for Ketel Marte and Nolan Arenado. Arizona also shuffled its catching situation, bringing Gabriel Moreno back and optioning Del Castillo, part of the kind of midseason maintenance that can say as much about a teams priorities as the batting order itself.
There was another notable wrinkle in the mix with Ryan Thompson, whose role changed after recent performance struggles, underscoring that the Diamondbacks are not simply coasting through the stretch run. On the other side, San Diego opened with Lars Nootbaar at the top of the order against right-hander Casey Mize, setting up a matchup that could shape the feel of the game before Arizona even gets to its first turn at the plate. [Read more 🡒]
Diamondbacks Take A Bullpen Flier As Wild Card Pressure Builds
As the Wild Card race tightens, the Diamondbacks are adding another arm to the mix, agreeing to a minor league contract with right-hander Dennis Santana. The nine-year veteran brings late-inning experience to the organization, including 22 career saves, and he arrives after spending time with the Pittsburgh Pirates before being designated for assignment in July.
Arizona is clearly looking for help wherever it can find it as the bullpen takes on more importance down the stretch. Santanas track record gives the club a reason to take the flier, but the real question is whether he can sharpen his recent performance enough to turn this into more than a depth move and become a usable option when the pressure rises. [Read more 🡒]
Diamondbacks Rookies Are Making Mike Hazens Pitching Gamble Look Real
The Diamondbacks recent patchwork on the mound has been impossible to ignore, but on a night when they beat the Padres 10-4 at Chase Field, it also looked a little more sustainable. Rookie left-hander Mitch Bratt gave Arizona the kind of stabilizing start it has been chasing, outpitching San Diego starter Casey Mize, who was gone by the fourth inning after the Diamondbacks piled up hits and runs.
For Arizona, the bigger story is not just one strong outing, but the way the rotation has been held together by rookies Mitch Bratt and Kohl Drake while injuries have thinned out the veteran options. That is a risky way to survive over the long haul, but performances like this suggest Mike Hazens decision to lean on the kids is at least giving the club a fighting chance while the staff gets healthy. [Read more 🡒]