The Diamondbacks introduced this afternoon that they’ve positioned right-hander Paul Sewald on the 15-day injured checklist with discomfort in his neck, retroactive to September 12. In a corresponding transfer, catcher Gabriel Moreno was activated from the 10-day injured checklist. The information comes as one thing of a shock, significantly given the truth that Arizona introduced that they’ve designated right-hander Dylan Floro for task to make room for Blake Walston on the membership’s energetic roster lower than two hours earlier than making this second collection of roster strikes.
Sewald, 34, has pitched simply as soon as since September 2 and has struggled in current weeks, with a 7.71 ERA and 4.89 FIP in seven innings of labor since August 19. These struggles when on the mound and his prolonged stretches with out pitching in any respect may very well be defined to an extent by the damage, but when Sewald has been damage it’s shocking that the Diamondbacks have saved him on the roster somewhat than opening a spot of their bullpen for a recent arm. Sewald will likely be eligible to return earlier than the top of the common season because of the back-dated nature of his placement on the IL, though no timetable for his return has been introduced at this level.
Acquired from the Mariners on the commerce deadline final yr, Sewald was among the many most coveted closers within the sport on the time with a 2.88 ERA and three.34 FIP in 171 2/3 innings of labor for the Mariners since he landed with the membership previous to the 2021 season. Issues haven’t gone nicely for him since transferring to the desert, nevertheless, as he walked 12.5% of batters confronted down the stretch with Arizona final yr and has two blow-up outings within the World Collection towards the Rangers, though these tough appearances had been preceded by eight dominant outings all through the postseason previous to that. Headed into 2024, Sewald retained his function as nearer for the Diamondbacks and seemed dominant early within the yr earlier than finally dropping that distinction again in August after a brutal month of July the place he surrendered 12 runs in ten innings of labor throughout 12 appearances.
Given Sewald’s deep struggles within the second half this yr and his obvious damage troubles, it’s not clear the place he stands within the Arizona bullpen because the membership seems to be forward in direction of what they hope will likely be their second consecutive playoff push. A return to kind within the postseason could be an enormous enhance for not solely the Diamondbacks but in addition Sewald’s personal fortunes, because the 34-year-old is scheduled to achieve free company this winter in a free agent class that figures to be pretty deep by way of relievers with late-inning expertise.
In Sewald’s place, Moreno returns to the roster a bit sooner than anticipated. The teenager was described earlier this weekend as “very shut” to returning alongside Lourdes Gurriel Jr. however appeared prone to be focusing on a return to motion later this week. With the 24-year-old now seemingly able to step again into his common function behind the plate, the Diamondbacks will now get to make the most of his two-way expertise somewhat than having to decide on between a robust defender with lackluster hitting skill in Jose Herrera and a powerful bat with defensive query marks behind the plate in Adrian Del Castillo. Moreno was within the midst of a advantageous season previous to his damage, slashing .262/.344/.385 slash line with a 105 wRC+ in 314 journeys to the plate this yr.
