PHILADELPHIA – The Diamondbacks have a rotation filled with pitchers whose breaking balls have improved and turned into weapons. Right-hander Matt Koch’s might not be that good – at least not yet – but his curveball at least has become a more useable pitch.
Koch, who will face the Philadelphia Phillies in Thursday’s series finale, threw his curveball 22 times last week against the San Diego Padres in his first start in the big leagues this year. He elicited five swinging strikes on it and the Padres were 0 for 8 on the ones they put into play.