PHILADELPHIA — The Arizona Diamondbacks announced rookie right-hander Brandon Pfaadt will start Game 3 of the National League Championship Series when the series returns to Phoenix on Thursday.
Pfaadt has had a roller coaster of a season, finishing with a 5.72 ERA and getting sent back down to Triple-A at one point, but he's coming off a strong start against the Dodgers in the division series in which he tossed 4⅓ scoreless innings while throwing an efficient 42 pitches. «I like so much about his last outing,» manager Torey Lovullo said. «Commanding the baseball.
He is a little bit like Merrill [Kelly]. He can work the baseball around the zone with different shape, speeds, and spin rate.
I feel like being able to do that against a very rugged Philly lineup where you can't be predictable in one spot with one pitch because they will hurt you.» Pfaadt began the season as Kiley McDaniel's No.