Diamondbacks' All-Righty Bullpen: Command Over Matchups

0:00It's March 23rd, MLB News Today starts now, AI powered and always on. The Arizona Diamondbacks are heading into opening day with an unusual all-right-handed bullpen. Neither of their top left-handed reliever candidates, Philip Abner or Brandon Garcia, made the roster. Instead, Garcia got option to AAA Reno on Monday, clearing spots for Joe Ross, Andrew Hoffman, and Juan Marillo. Major Tori LeVulo explained, the move boils down to one key priority, pitchers who consistently fill the strike zone. Garcia had control issues in spring training, posting an 11.37 earned run average over six and one-third innings with plenty of, walks and hits. Fans and analysts have noticed the lack of lefty arms right away, but LeVulo owned it head on. He stressed building trust and relievers who generate swings and misses or weak contact against any batter. The team is banking on right-handers with strong reverse blitz against lefties. Kevin Ginkgole has held left-handed hitters to a 2-19 average since 2022.

1:04Hoffman and Marillo showed similar promise in the miners last year. As the Diamondbacks open against the Dodgers and Los Angeles, they'll test this setup against the loaded line-up full of lefty stars. LeVulo figures command Trump's matchups when facing that kind of firepower, setting up an intriguing early test for their relief corps.