Sean M. Haffey. Getty Images.I wrote this when the playoffs started:
He did get knocked around in that start. But then he rebounded to throw 4 2/3 scoreless innings against the Dodgers. As good as that was, he went and did this today.
How good has Brandon Pfaadt been this post-season? Here’s a blind resume of three rookie pitchers in post-season.
A) 3-0, 4.72 ERA, 25 K’s in 5 starts (26.2IP)
B) 4-0, 3.18 ERA, 26 K’s in 3 starts (28.2 IP) NLCS MVP, World Series MVP
C) 0-0, 2.13 ERA, 15 K’s in 3 starts (12.2 IP)
Pfaadt is obviously the third guy and clearly hasn’t had the same amount of work as the first two who both pitched into the World Series. But if you told me Brandon Pfaadt would have a better strikeout rate than Jaret Wright in 1997 (person A) and a better ERA than Livan Hernandez also in 1997 (person B), I wouldn’t have believed it.
I bring those two guys up specifically because they really exploded on the scene in the playoffs more than their actual rookie seasons (especially Wright). It was also the peak for both of these guys. Wright wound up going 0-6 with a 9.10 the rest of his career in the playoffs. Livan had more success going 3-3 the rest of his career in the playoffs but did self-destruct and almost single handedly lose the 2002 World Series for the Giants.
LUCY NICHOLSON. Getty Images.I think Pfaadt will have a brighter future then both Livan and Wright. That’s not even intended to be a shot towards Livan who had 178 career wins. It’s more that I was so impressed with Pfaadt’s stuff tonight. Here’s what I wrote in blog shitting on him:
Now, numbers can also be unfair without context. Pfaadt was a Top 30 prospect heading into the season and had a lot of success in AAA. He has gone 11-3 with Reno with a 3.16 ERA in 22 starts there. He’s also been better in the majors since August 1st with a 4.14 ERA in his past 10 starts.
He obviously had potential but to shut down a great Phillies lineup and be THAT dominant?
I was clearly wrong about Pfaadt so take this next paragraph with that warning. Despite losing tonight, I do think the Phillies win this series (although Pfaadt is lined up to start a potential Game 7). However, Pfaadt going from bad to OK to dominant over the course of one season could be so huge for the 2024 DBacks. They already have Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly each on the books through the 2025 season (Gallen until 2026). If Pfaadt is going to pitch like this, the NL West should be terrified for years.
To Dbacks fans, I was VERY wrong about Pfaadt in these playoffs. Your 24 year old 3rd starter doesn’t just deserve to on a playoff pitching mound. He’s owned it. He was just the greatest factor in the biggest playoff win for the Diamondbacks since 2001.
How long ago was that? Pfaadt had just turned 3 years old.