PHOENIX — After a lopsided affair in their opener against the Washington Nationals , the Arizona Diamondbacks once again have made a shake-up to their bullpen.
The team is recalling right-handed reliever Drey Jameson from Triple-A Reno and optioning right-handed pitcher Kade Strowd back down after he made his Arizona debut Friday night.
The moves come after the Diamondbacks' 14-1 loss to the Nationals, a game in which Arizona's pitching staff struggled throughout against a sneaky Washington lineup. Strowd pitched only one inning, allowing one hit and one earned run while walking the bases loaded before being pulled and walking off the mound with the athletic trainer.
Feb 22, 2026; Salt River Pima-Maricopa, Arizona, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Kade Strowd (24) delivers to the plate in the third inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Manager Torey Lovullo described the issue as a "dead arm" situation — according to Arizona Sports' Alex Weiner — saying Strowd couldn't feel the baseball or execute the way he wanted. He added that the club would continue to monitor the reliever, who felt alright "so far" Saturday morning, according to Diamondbacks on SI's Alex D'Agostino.
With Strowd sidelined, Jameson now takes his place in the bullpen, giving Arizona another power arm as it continues to navigate injuries and absences. So far in Reno, the right-hander has posted a 21.9% strikeout rate and generated a 33% whiff rate. While his 7.33 ERA through 23.1 innings could be cause for concern, his experience at the MLB level could prove valuable for a D-Backs team that still missing arms.
Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Drey Jameson throws to the Milwaukee Brewers in the third inning of a spring training game on Feb. 26, 2025, in Scottsdale at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick. © Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Jameson appeared in 19 games for Arizona between 2022 and 2023 before undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2024, showing flashes of the electric stuff that once made him one of the organization's top pitching prospects. Now healthy and back in the mix, he'll get another opportunity to contribute at the major league level.
As the Diamondbacks look to bounce back from a rough series-opening loss, they'll hope Jameson can provide a boost to a bullpen that has been asked to shoulder an increased workload in recent weeks. Whether his stay in Arizona is brief or extended, the club will be looking for reliable innings as it works to regain momentum.
Jun 23, 2023; San Francisco, California, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Drey Jameson (99) delivers a pitch against the San Francisco Giants during the seventh inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: D. Ross Cameron-USA TODAY Sports
