The Diamondbacks dropped another series, this time to the lowly Pirates, thanks to bullpen meltdowns, Gallen’s collapse, and a lifeless offense that wasted elite starts from Burnes and Nelson. The Dysfunctionbacks era may have officially begun.
The Arizona Diamondbacks suffered what may be their most demoralizing series loss of the season, dropping two of three games to a Pirates team with one of the league’s worst offenses. In the latest Dbacks Dispatch episode, Gabe and Brandon aren’t pulling punches, calling the series a disaster that showcased everything wrong with the 2024 D-backs, from bullpen blowups and managerial indecision to offensive flatlining and wasted elite pitching.
Despite a strong series start and another electric outing from Corbin Burnes, the D-backs were outscored 19–12 runs in total this series after taking an early lead in Game 1. The mood among fans and hosts alike has shifted from frustration to existential concern about the direction of this team.
Ryne Nelson Dominates, D-backs Cruise
Game 1 gave fans reason for hope. Ryne Nelson delivered a gem: 6.2 scoreless innings with 4 strikeouts and only 4 hits allowed. After facing possible demotion earlier in the season, Nelson has made a compelling case to stay in the rotation long-term.
Interestingly, it was Geraldo Perdomo and Eugenio Suárez who reportedly lobbied Torey Lovullo to leave Nelson in longer. To Lovullo’s credit, he listened, and was rewarded with a quality outing.
Burnes Deals, Bullpen and Offense Collapse
Corbin Burnes was again brilliant: 6 innings, 2 earned runs, and five straight quality starts. His ERA now sits below 2.50. But the bullpen turned a 6–2 lead into a nightmare, allowing nine unanswered runs as the Pirates came back to win 9–6.
Kevin Ginkel completely lost command of his fastball and was inexplicably left in to face six batters. Jalen Beeks came in cold and promptly gave up a 3-run homer. Poor pitch sequencing, bad matchup choices, and an absence of any contingency planning from Lovullo made the meltdown feel inevitable.
Gallen Gets Rocked, Skenes Shuts It Down
Facing Paul Skenes, arguably the hottest young pitcher in the league, the D-backs never had a chance in the finale. They lost 10–1, managing just five hits while Zac Gallen fell apart in the fifth inning… again. After cruising through four innings, Gallen surrendered six runs in the fifth as the Pirates adjusted their approach.
Dbacks Dispatch noted that Gallen has repeatedly collapsed in the 5th and 6th innings, and the coaching staff continues to leave him in too long with no relievers warming.
Ongoing Concerns & Major Themes
Bullpen Mismanagement
The bullpen continues to be the D-backs’ Achilles heel, and the blame is being spread. Lovullo’s reactive approach, lack of contingency planning, and strange trust in struggling arms like Ginkel and Beeks has fans and analysts questioning his judgment.
Meanwhile, Justin Martinez showed flashes of dominance, entering with bases loaded and escaping untouched, throwing multiple pitches over 100 mph. We see him as one of the few bright spots.
The Lawlar Letdown
Jordan Lawlar’s development has been mishandled, Brandon and Gabe argue. Called up with no clear role, then given sporadic starts against elite pitchers like Yamamoto and Skenes, Lawlar was doomed from the start. He’s now back in Reno, and we don’t expect him back unless the team starts selling.
Burnes’ Future and the Opt-Out Looming
Corbin Burnes has been worth every penny so far, but if the D-backs don’t build a winning team around him, his opt-out after year 2 could come into play. Both Brandon and Gabe argued that Burnes wants to stay, but he’ll only do so if the team shows real commitment to contention.
Trade Talk: Gallen on the Block?
The podcast ends with a sobering discussion: Should the D-backs trade Zac Gallen? The consensus: not yet, but the clock is ticking. His trade value is low, and if the D-backs want a return, he’ll need to string together multiple strong outings in June.
The Dysfunctionbacks Are Real
It’s getting late early. The D-backs are sliding further from the playoff race and deeper into organizational chaos. The players look disengaged, the bullpen is unreliable, and the front office seems rudderless.
Fans have started using a new nickname: The Dysfunctionbacks, and for now, it fits. With a soft stretch of schedule coming, this team has one last chance to save its season before the trade deadline becomes a fire sale.