The Diamondbacks Have One Of The Worst Game One Starting Pitchers This Century Pitching Tonight

That's Brandon Pfaadt. He's a rookie pitcher who had a terrible 2023. He made 18 starts and went 3-9 with 5.72 ERA. Not many pitchers in baseball history have had a worse season and still started any playoff game, much less Game 1 of a series.

Now, numbers can also be unfair without context. Pfaadt was a Top 30 prospect heading into the season and had a lot of success in AAA. He has gone 11-3 with Reno with a 3.16 ERA in 22 starts there. He's also been better in the majors since August 1st with a 4.14 ERA in his past 10 starts. 

But at the end of the day, this is someone going up against Corbin Burnes today in the first playoff game for the Diamondbacks since 2017 who has given up 22 home runs in only 96 innings. Things could get really fucked up in Milwaukee today.

Here are some other horrible starting pitchers who also started Game 1's this century and how they did.

2002: Joe Mays, Minnesota Twins (4-8, 5.38 in 17 starts)

Game 1 ALCS

This is a different situation than Pfaadt. Mays was one of the best pitchers in the AL in 2001 going 17-13 with a 3.16 ERA and led the league in ERA+. He signed a big contract extension after that season and was horrible after that. He was lousy in 2002 but because the ALDS against the A's went the distance, the Twins were forced to use Mays in the first game of the LCS…and he was awesome. 

Mays was brilliant going 8 innings and only giving up one unearned run. It would be the only game the Twins would win in that LCS as the Angels won the next four games and then beat the Giants to win the World Series.

Mays: 8 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, (Win)

2006: Jeff Weaver, St. Louis Cardinals (8-14, 5.76 in 31 starts)

Game 1 NLCS

Sigh. Writing about this series and the 2006 Cards sucks as a Mets fan. This team had no business beating the Mets much less winning a World Series but they did so here we go. Weaver started the year with the Angels and went to the pitching desperate Cardinals in July. He stunk with the Cards and had an ERA of over 5 just with them. 

Once the playoffs started, he became a very different pitcher. He wound up having a 2.43 ERA in five starts and wound up winning Game 5 of the World Series to clinch the Series for the Cardinals over the Tigers. 

Weaver: 5.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 1 K (Loss)

2006: Anthony Reyes, St. Louis Cardinals (5-8, 5.06 ERA in 17 starts)

Game 1 World Series

This fucking team again. Unbelievable. How the hell did this raggedy ass team win a World Series? Anthony Reyes has a career ERA of 5.12 and has always been horrible (other than a 6 game stretch with the Indians in 2008).

EXCEPT in Game 1 of the World Series when he was lights out. This is certainly Anthony Reyes' greatest moment and it might be Tony LaRussa's as well. He pitched 8 brilliant innings and set the tone for the entire series. The next season he went 2-14 with a 6.04 ERA. But for one night when it mattered most, Reyes stepped up big time.

Reyes: 8 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 K (Win)

It's not like I stopped looking up guys after 2006. No one since then has approached this level of awfulness. Pfaadt is clearly the worst pitcher to start a Game 1 since 2006. He might be the worst this century. He has the highest ERA and a WAR of -0.4.

I think the big takeaway is just because you were awful in the regular season doesn't mean you'll be ass in the playoffs. In fact, it could mean you could be really good. These three pitchers combined to go 2-1, 1.69. 

I'm still predicting Pfaadt has a tough time tonight. The game has obviously changed with pitchers getting pulled so much earlier now than in the 00's. Maybe they only go with Pfaadt for 4 innings and pull him before he can face the lineup a 3rd time? Despite Mays, Weaver and Reyes, I still think the Brewers win today.