The Diamondbacks bullpen is rounding into shape in the month of May, as a trio of relievers have stepped up to form the back end of the bullpen. Paul Sewald is back as the closer, healthy again and locking down the ninth inning while Ryan Thompson and Joe Mantiply have emerged as the key relievers forming the bridge.
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The team was dealt a tough blow just days before the start of the regular season when Sewald strained his left oblique and opened the season on the injured list. His return has energized the team, who is 10-8 since May 7, and allowed the bullpen to naturally evolve into the best version of itself again.
“I’ve seen that before, it’s like Papa’s coming home and we can all sleep tight tonight,” said manager Torey Lovullo. “We can all relax a bit and get into our own nest and sit where we feel most comfortable.”
“Just having Paul back lengthens our bullpen,” said catcher Tucker Barnhart. “It allows you to use R.T. in the seventh inning, it allows you to use Joe as an opener, allows you to use him in the sixth, seventh, or eighth, whenever leverage makes sense. We have so many more options with Paul back.”
Having Sewald back and locking down the ninth inning has once again created a trickle-down effect that’s positively impacted the rest of the bullpen. Thompson, once signed off the scrap heap last August, has been one of the best setup men in baseball with a 0.87 ERA and seven holds. Mantiply has rediscovered his All-Star form from two seasons ago and has become the team’s most reliable left-handed arm once again. He played a huge role in slowing down the Dodgers lineup in their series win in Los Angeles last week.
For the month of May, the three pitchers have collectively allowed just four runs to score in 23 1/3 innings (1.54 ERA) with 23 strikeouts and just five walks. They aren’t just getting it done from a run prevention standpoint, but also their relief appearances are vastly contributing to the team’s success. In their 25 appearances, the trio have combined for 13 shutdowns (+0.06 Win Probability Added) and only two meltdowns (-0.06 WPA). While Thompson has two blown saves over that stretch, allowing three inherited runners to score in those two games, in both games the Diamondbacks immediately answered and made him the winning pitcher.
Kevin Ginkel has been the one reliever who has struggled in the month of May. Arguably the Diamondbacks’ most effective reliever last postseason, Ginkel has been erratic to begin the 2024 season. In his last seven appearances, he’s given up runs in five of them, with six runs scored on 13 hits, two walks, and five strikeouts. He’ll be another key player for the Diamondbacks to try to course-correct moving forward, as having a fourth reliable arm in the back end of the bullpen, especially for a guy who has the best bat-missing ability of the four, would be a huge pickup for the team.
Having a back end of the bullpen that consistently gets the job done night in and night out has been a luxury for Lovullo in close games. While the Diamondbacks have had recent issues scoring runs, it’s comforting knowing that a lead after six innings often will translate into a win.
