The Arizona Diamondbacks' starting rotation has pulled off a stunning turnaround, and it all started with a frank conversation in the manager's office.
Just weeks ago, things looked bleak. Walks were piling up, home runs were flying out of Chase Field, and runs were crossing the plate at an alarming rate. Through the first 33 games, Arizona's starters owned the worst ERA in baseball at 5.42, and the Diamondbacks found themselves 4½ games back in the NL West before May even hit full swing.
Manager Torey Lovullo, known for preferring one-on-one chats, made a rare decision. He called the entire starting rotation into his office for a direct, one-way conversation. The message? Simple but powerful: throw strikes.
"That was his message, just to remind us that we're really good and what we're going through right now is not who we are," right-hander Merrill Kelly recalled.
The starters already knew the basics, but the reinforced message lit a fire. Instead of trying to be too fine or chase strikeouts, they started letting hitters put the ball in play. The results have been nothing short of remarkable.
After Michael Soroka's gem against Texas on Monday night, Arizona's starters have now recorded seven straight starts of at least six innings — the longest active streak in the majors and the Diamondbacks' best since 2017. Even more impressive, they've strung together four consecutive starts of at least six innings with one or fewer runs and four or fewer hits, a feat they've accomplished only five times in franchise history and not since 2019.
Lovullo, ever humble, downplayed his role. "I probably had 1% to do with that," he said with a smile. "I just created awareness, just told them this is what I'm seeing, go out there and reverse it. Figure out how to pitch deep into games, execute and put balls into play."
Whether it was the manager's pep talk or the starters rediscovering their rhythm, one thing is clear: Arizona's rotation has gone from a liability to a strength, and the rest of the league is taking notice.