Thursday night’s Diamondbacks starting pitcher Brandon Pfaadt was pulled from Game 3 of the NLCS vs. the Phillies in the sixth inning while throwing a shutout.
The rookie pitcher finished with just two hits against nine strikeouts over the span of 5.2 innings and 70 pitches.
Pfaadt won his other two postseason starts this year. He is also the first pitcher in MLB history to clock zero runs and zero walks in back-to-back postseason starts, according to ESPN Stats & Info.
Arizona fans were perplexed why Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo pulled him so early, as the 25-year-old was obviously off to a hot start. The crowd at Chase Field began by booing the decision, but eventually gave Pfaadt the ovation he deserved as he walked off the mound.
Crowd boos the decision to pull Brandon Pfaadt before giving him a standing ovation. pic.twitter.com/5G9mnKraWh
— Kellan Olson (@KellanOlson) October 19, 2023
Fans and reporters following the action online also questioned the decision.
Torey Lovullo is pulling Brandon Pfaadt, who has thrown 5 2/3 brilliant shutout innings for the Diamondbacks, and bringing in left-hander reliever Andrew Saalfrank.
The fans are booing.
Pfaadt has thrown 69 pitches. Do what you shall with that, Twitter.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) October 19, 2023
I guess the D-backs had to go to someone more effective than Brandon Pfaadt's 9Ks over 5.2 scoreless innings on 70 pitches.
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) October 19, 2023
that's the thing. fine, walk Schwarber if you're that concerned, but pulling a guy with stuff like that on the day is just not a decision I would have made based on what I was looking at with my eyeballs in this specific game https://t.co/I4EyFT5x9B
— Clinton Yates (@clintonyates) October 19, 2023
Reliever Andrew Saalfrank entered the game in the sixth inning, walking his first batter, Kyle Schwarber, before recording the third out. He walked just one batter in the seventh before reliever Ryan Thompson took over.
While the game continued as a tense pitcher’s duel, the decision to pull Pfaadt despite his hot start ultimately worked out for the Diamondbacks, who won in walk-off fashion thanks to a Ketel Marte single in the bottom of the ninth.