Madison Bumgarner ( 4-5 5.73 ) is being taken off the DL (It’s DL people just stop) for tonight’s Diamondbacks game vs the Cubs in Chicago. The question is – Why?
Well, the short answer is his shoulder is no longer sore and the D-Backs are looking to get a good jump on the second half of the season and forget the 26-66 record they went into the break with. But who likes the short answer? Yeah, me neither. The Long answer is always more fun.
Madison Bumgarner threw a complete game without allowing a hit against the Braves today. However, it won't be recognized as a no-hitter since the game was only seven innings as part of a double header. pic.twitter.com/lJaKBXrAUJ — SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 25, 2021
Since signing a five-year, $85 million free-agent deal in the 2019-20 offseason, Bumgarner has battled injuries and posted a bloated 6.04 ERA over 101 1/3 innings. Could Arizona’s GM Mike Hazen be hoping to showcase the lefty in hopes of finding a sucker – I mean buyer – at the trade deadline? Could a good start or two convince a GM out there that sees something in the four-time All-Star, three-time World Series Champion?
Mad Bum has shown in past postseasons he is a killer. When the calendar turns to September and October, the man is (13-3) with a 2.11 ERA. When the rest of the league is golfing or headed to the Bahamas, this man deals against the best in the business. While his ERA in Arizona has skyrocketed in his time in the desert he is still averaging nine K’s per nine innings. If he comes out of the break and pitches well? With some creative accounting, he could find himself on a contender by August 1st.
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Featured Image via Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports Madison Bumgarner