Dallas Keuchel designated for assignment by Arizona Diamondbacks

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The Arizona Diamondbacks have designated left-handed pitcher Dallas Keuchel for assignment, the team announced on Thursday.

ESPN’s Jeff Passan first reported the move on Wednesday night, adding that Keuchel will clear waivers and become a free agent.

This marks the second time the left-handed starter has been DFA’d this season after the Chicago White Sox did earlier this season.

Arizona then signed Keuchel in early June before he made his D-backs debut on June 26.

In four career starts in the Valley, he finished with a 0-2 record, 9.64 ERA and 1.868 WHIP while striking out 18 and walking seven in 18.2 innings pitched.

But unfortunately for both parties, however, the 2015 AL Cy Young Award winner only had one of his four starts go past 5.0 innings pitched.

In that game — a 4-3 loss to the Colorado Rockies at Chase Field — Keuchel picked up a quality start by allowing only three runs on seven hits and no walks in 7.0 innings while striking out four batters on 98 pitches (67 strikes).

The seven-inning performance also marked the first time the lefty had accomplished that feat since July 2021.

Keuchel’s last game in a Diamondbacks uniform was his worst.

He allowed eight runs (seven earned) on eight hits (three home runs) and one walk on 62 pitches (38 strikes) in 2.1 innings pitched en route to a 13-0 loss to the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park.

Keuchel’s departure will leave manager Torey Lovullo and pitching coach Brett Strom with some decisions to make, as right-handed starters Zach Davies and Humberto Castellanos are currently on the injured list.

As of late, left-handed pitcher Tyler Gilbert has been platooning in the D-backs’ starting rotation.

Other options Lovullo and Co. could consider as replacements for Keuchel could be lefty Caleb Smith — who started the season as a member of the rotation — and right-hander Luke Weaver.

And while starters have not yet been named for Arizona’s opening series out of the All-Star break against the Washington Nationals at home, one can assume some combination of Madison Bumgarner, Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly will be used to start the second half of the season.

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