Apr 14, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Mike Bolsinger (49) throws during the fifth inning against the New York Mets at Chase Field. Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
PHOENIX — Rookie right-hander Mike Bolsinger called his arrival in the major leagues a dream come true. The Arizona Diamondbacks just hope Bolsinger can help them past the nightmare than has been the first three weeks.
Bolsinger had his contract purchased from Triple-A Reno on Monday, and he pitched three innings of two-run ball in long relief that night in Arizona’s 7-3 loss to the New York Mets. He will replace right-hander Trevor Cahill in the rotation beginning with a Saturday start against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium.
“We felt we had a better opportunity to win the games going this way. Give somebody else a chance,” D-backs manager Kirk Gibson said.
Bolsinger was 2-0 with a 1.42 ERA in two starts at Reno.
Cahill, who won at least 10 games in four of the past five seasons, was 0-4 with a 9.17 ERA in his first four starts, and the D-backs decided they could not wait any longer to make a change. He will move to the bullpen.
The problem was not only with Cahill. The D-backs’ starters have a major-league-high 7.16 ERA after Monday’s loss, which dropped the team’s record to 4-12.
“I’ve never seen this guy not pitch well,” general manager Kevin Towers said. “He reminds me a lot of (Josh) Collmenter. If you are a scout and see him as an amateur, you probably don’t turn him in because he is not going to light up the JUGS gun, but the results are always there.
“He stays off the barrel of the bat. He has no fear. He’s a strike-thrower. We brought him up to be one of our five starters. This is not short term. This is long term, and hopefully successful.”
The weekend sweep by the Dodgers was the last straw for the Diamondbacks. Los Angeles took 4-0, 5-0 and 5-0 leads in those three games, putting extra pressure not only on Arizona’s bullpen but also the offense. The D-backs were outscored by 32 runs in their first 15 games, even while averaging four runs a game and leading the majors in total bases. They have lost games in which they scored eight runs, six runs and five runs (three times), and they trail the NL West-leading Dodgers by 6 1/2 games.
Bolsinger, 26, features a cut fastball and what Towers called one of the best curveballs in the organization. Bolsinger credits recent success to his decision to pitch to all parts of the plate.
“This year I’ve really started pitching inside, which was something I was uncomfortable doing last year,” he said. “I think that’s been the difference-maker. That’s something I really need to keep doing.”
Improved starting pitching is a must, Towers said.
“Certainly didn’t see this coming,” Towers said. “It’s pretty obvious our starting pitching has not been good, and it is going to have to get better for us to make a run at this thing. Losing (All-Star Patrick) Corbin hurt, but I didn’t expect our starting pitching to be as bad.”
Corbin and top setup man David Hernandez will miss the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery a week apart in late March.
