D-Backs veteran leader dealing with fatigue following ugly outing

Madison Bumgarner Jonathan Hui-USA TODAY Sports

Diamondbacks veteran leader dealing with fatigue following ugly start

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Grey Papke | Last updated 4/2/23

The twilight of Madison Bumgarner’s career continues to be one to forget, as the veteran Arizona Diamondbacks hurler is dealing with a new and concerning issue just one start into the new season.

Bumgarner complained of arm fatigue following his Saturday outing against the Los Angeles Dodgers, according to Arizona manager Torey Lovullo. In that matchup, he lasted just four innings while allowing five earned runs on four hits with four walks and just two strikeouts.

While Bumgarner is confident he will not miss a turn through the rotation, the Diamondbacks understandably want to run some further tests on his arm before he is given the all-clear.

Madison Bumgarner has been sent back to Arizona to be evaluated by the club’s medical team after saying he was fatigued in last night’s start, manager Torey Lovullo said.

— Nick Piecoro (@nickpiecoro) April 2, 2023

Lovullo clarified that he was sent back for tests on his arm. Bumgarner was feeling “arm fatigue,” the manager said.

— Nick Piecoro (@nickpiecoro) April 2, 2023

Arm fatigue after just one start is rarely a positive sign, but unfortunately for the Diamondbacks, Bumgarner has been relatively unimpressive regardless of health since hitting the desert. He posted a 4.88 ERA in 30 starts in 2022 and has a 5.06 ERA with Arizona since signing on.

The 33-year-old veteran is still owed $37 million through the 2024 season, which is part of why the team apparently looked into moving him during the offseason.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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