Diamondbacks Gameday Thread, #65: 6/8 @ Padres

Roster moves

The Arizona Diamondbacks made the following roster moves. The D-backs’ 40-man roster is at 40.

• Recalled from Triple-A Reno: RHP Scott McGough
• Optioned to Triple-A Reno following last night’s game: RHP Humberto Castellanos

Castellanos was okay last night, until he wasn’t, and with him having thrown sixty pitches, he’d be out for a few days, so it’s the return of Scott McGough. He had posted an ugly 6.75 ERA over 16 innings before getting sent down to Reno. There, he had a sparkling 2.92 ERA, which I need hardly remind you, is very good for the Pacific Coast League. However, as well as the four earned runs allowed in 12.1 innings, McGough also allowed six unearned ones. A WHIP of 1.541 over the same time is somewhat less impressive, though he was still striking out batters at a good rate (14 K’s). I imagine we won’t see him in high-leverage roles until Scott has proven he has corrected course.

McGough has had his ups and down before, even by the streaky standards of relief pitchers. He started 2023 badly, with a 5.87 ERA through May 6. But he was then unhittable for two months, with an ERA of 1.16 and FIP of 1.87 over 24 games and 31 innings. Then things got ugly again, with an 8.63 ERA/7.46 FIP the rest of the way across 24 innings, before injury curtailed his campaign and kept Scott out of the post-season. If he can recapture that mid-season form, he’ll be a boon to the bullpen. But the reality is, across this season and last, he has an ERA+ of only 84. It’s a disappointing return, though at $2.5m and $3m, he’s not THAT expensive. Though we’ll see what happens with the $4m mutual option for 2025...