Diamondbacks start Taylor Clarke in must-win bullpen game, Gabriel Moreno will DH

SAN DIEGO — The Diamondbacks previously expected to start Corbin Burnes on Saturday against the San Diego Padres, but his reversion to the injured list has set up a must-win bullpen game for Arizona.

Right-handed reliever Taylor Clarke will get the start and face a top of the lineup that features dangerous righties Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado.

Clarke has made one start as an opener this season in which he blanked the Philadelphia Phillies, ironically, in 1.2 innings earlier this month. The D-backs entered Saturday’s slate of games one back of the Phillies for the final National League Wild Card spot.

Clarke has had an overall great season after coming back to Arizona as a free agent, pitching to a 2.86 ERA in 72.1 innings, but he has not been so sharp lately. He allowed five earned runs over his last 5.1 innings, including two in his latest appearance at Coors Field.

The Diamondbacks’ bullpen should be gassed up, as leverage arms Jonathan Loaisiga, Brandyn Garcia, Justin Martinez and Juan Morillo have not pitched since Wednesday.

“Because of what we have done over the past couple days staying away from them — yesterday in Colorado and today, which was all Brandon Pfaadt — we are pretty loaded up tomorrow,” manager Torey Lovullo said postgame on Friday.

Ryne Nelson and Zac Gallen pitched in relief on Friday, so how they recovered may determine their availability to provide multiple innings. Ace starter Eduardo Rodriguez volunteered to go to the bullpen just in case he could be helpful after starting on Thursday.

This is essentially another Game 7, so the mantra has been all hands on deck.

“We’ll figure out Sunday when it comes,” Lovullo said. “I know that we’re going to dig into our reserve a little bit tomorrow, but I think everybody is ready to go for the next two days.”

The Padres are starting right-hander Walker Buehler, whom the D-backs have seen twice this year (9 IP, 9 ER).

Gabriel Moreno starting

Catcher Gabriel Moreno will start as the designated hitter on Saturday after leaving Friday’s game with a tender left hamstring.

James McCann will catch for Arizona’s bullpen game.

Here is the lineup:

Dig deep. pic.twitter.com/vpeag9xlyA

— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) September 26, 2026

Phillies also pushing their pitching staff

Philadelphia also faces the potential for a bullpen game on Saturday against the Tampa Bay Rays, but they are approaching it differently.

Aaron Nola will get the start on two days of rest, as manager Don Mattingly told reporters Nola could throw 40-50 pitches, more or less.

First pitch at Petco Park is at 5:40 p.m. MST on 98.7 and the Arizona Sports app. 

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