The Diamondbacks have shaken up their bullpen going into the San Diego series. They claimed right-hander Thyago Vieira off waivers from the Baltimore Orioles and selected right-hander Humberto Castellanos from Triple-A Reno. Left-hander Joe Jacques has been recalled from Reno, Luis FrÃas has been activated from the 15-day injured list and optioned to Triple-A with Brandon Hughes, and Blake Walston has been placed on the 15-day injured list with left elbow inflammation.
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The #Dbacks claimed RHP Thyago Vieira off waivers from the Orioles.
— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) June 6, 2024
Today's #Dbacks roster moves. pic.twitter.com/YZyObN37KO
— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) June 6, 2024
Arizona had two open spots on their 40-man roster following Matt Bowman’s release and Andrew Saalfrank serving a one-year ban for betting on baseball. Both open spots will add more reinforcements to a bullpen that has worked a lot recently due to injuries impacting the starting rotation. Logan Allen, Brandon Hughes, and Bryce Jarvis are likely down for this game, possibly longer due to the heavy workloads they went through on Wednesday, so adding two fresh arms will help out for this series.
KPRC 2 Houston reporter Ari Alexander reported Jacques would be called up earlier today.
Source: The #DBacks are recalling LHP Joe Jacques.
Jacques joined the team as a waiver claim from the #RedSox.
He has 24 career Major League appearances with Boston. pic.twitter.com/JqRVU4NUx7
— Ari Alexander (@AriA1exander) June 6, 2024
The Diamondbacks rotation takes another hit with Walston hitting the injured list. Arizona now has four starting pitchers on the IL, although Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly, and Eduardo RodrÃguez have started their throwing programs. Walston was recalled as a starter on May 26, allowing two runs in nine innings against the Miami Marlins and San Francisco Giants. Fellow left-hander Tommy Henry is the obvious candidate to take his spot in the rotation, as he’s lined up to start on Sunday for Triple-A Reno.
Vieira, 31, is an out-of-options reliever who averages upper 90s velocity with a four-seamer and sinker but has a career 6.71 ERA with four different teams. He’s primarily a sinker/slider guy but will occasionally mix in the four-seamer. The 31-year-old has a 6.85 ERA in the 2024 season in 17 appearances with the Milwaukee Brewers and Baltimore Orioles. It’s the second time this season he’s been designated for assignment and his third team in 2024.
Jacques, 29, (pronounced Jakes) was claimed by the Diamondbacks off waivers from the Boston Red Sox on April 23, pitching with their Triple-A affiliate since. A dropdown, sidearming lefty who throws a sinker/sweeper combination, he generates a lot of ground ball contact. His career ground ball rate is 64%, which combined with Arizona’s solid infield defense has the makings to be a solid left-hander in their bullpen. He has 24 career appearances with a 5.08 ERA, with all but one coming in the 2023 season.
Castellanos, 26, has completed an impressive comeback story with the Diamondbacks. He last pitched on May 31, tearing the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow and undergoing Tommy John surgery, and didn’t pitch in an affiliated ball again until this season with Triple-A Reno. An impressive spring got him on the radar of the organization for a potential midseason callup. With Allen down for the next few days, Castellanos will take on the long reliever role for the series.
FrÃas, 26, made the team’s Opening Day roster as a reliever, but a 9.95 ERA in seven appearances led to what originally seemed like a demotion. However, he was placed on the injured list with right shoulder inflammation on April 17. He returned to make a rehab appearance at the complex on June 1, then another scoreless inning with Reno on June 5. Now on an optional assignment, FrÃas is not eligible to be recalled to the major league roster until June 21 unless to replace an injured player.
Hughes, 28, has pitched in a couple of stints, with a 10.13 ERA in nine appearances. He started well, with five of his first six games being scoreless, but then allowed runs in three straight outings. He’s allowed seven runs in his last 3 2/3 innings, asked to give length in low-leverage situations. Due to that workload, and the need for the fresh arm, he became a victim of the roster crunch.