Diamondbacks to start Brandon Pfaadt in Game 3 of NLCS - ESPN

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. 32 prospect on ESPN.com's preseason top 100 list. After starting the season at Triple-A Reno, Pfaadt was called up in May but returned to the minors after posting an 8.37 ERA in five starts. He has been a regular in the Arizona rotation since late July, and when he's locating, he can be tough: Including the start against the Dodgers, he allowed no runs in four of his past 10 appearances. However, when he struggles, he gives up home runs: 22 in 96 innings.

The Diamondbacks have had issues all season with production from their Nos. 3 and 4 starters and are expected to go with a bullpen game in Game 4. Lovullo didn't use any of his top relievers — Paul Sewald, Kevin Ginkel, Andrew Saalfrank and Ryan Thompson — in the 5-3 loss in Game 1. As against the Dodgers, Pfaadt almost certainly will have a short leash as well.

«The way I'm looking at