Diamondbacks debut Kohl Drake vs. Athletics after IL move
The Arizona Diamondbacks recalled left-hander Kohl Drake from Triple-A Reno for his major-league debut against the Athletics at Chase Field on Tuesday, after placing right-hander Drey Jameson on the 15-day injured list with right hip inflammation retroactive to July 20. Arizona also recalled right-hander Gerardo Carrillo and optioned right-hander Juan Burgos, keeping the club's 40-man roster at capacity.
Key Takeaways
- Kohl Drake is making his MLB debut for the Diamondbacks as the team's seventh debutant of 2026.
- Drey Jameson landed on the 15-day IL with right hip inflammation, opening the door for Drake and Carrillo.
- The Athletics won the series opener 5-2 at Chase Field before game two of the three-game set.
- Arizona opened as a -134 moneyline favorite, with the total set at 9.5 runs.
- Drake posted a 6.92 ERA at Triple-A Reno but threw five shutout innings in his last road start at Tacoma.
Why are the Diamondbacks calling up Kohl Drake now?
According to Yahoo Sports, Drake becomes the third starting pitcher to reach the majors for Arizona this season, following Jose Cabrera and Mitch Bratt. He arrived in the Merrill Kelly trade with the Rangers after being drafted in the 11th round in 2022.
The 26-year-old has struggled in Reno across 16 starts and one relief outing, logging a 6.92 ERA with a 60-to-31 strikeout-to-walk mark over 66.2 innings. His batting average against at home sat at .321, more than 90 points higher than on the road, and his last Tacoma outing produced five shutout frames of one-hit ball with six strikeouts and no walks.
What else changed on the Diamondbacks roster?
Jameson's IL placement created an immediate need. Carrillo was recalled from Reno and could become Arizona's eighth debutant of 2026. Burgos was optioned after the previous night's game. Fans tracking odd baseball roster churn can find more quirky sports stories in our Bizarre World hub.
Tuesday's Diamondbacks lineup featured Ketel Marte at DH, Geraldo Perdomo at shortstop, Corbin Carroll in right, and Nolan Arenado at third. Drake was listed as the starting left-hander opposite Athletics right-hander Jack Perkins.
How do the Athletics enter this Chase Field rematch?
Athletics Nation reported that game two of the series was set for Chase Field in Phoenix, with the Athletics aiming for a series win after taking the opener 5-2. Joshua Kuroda-Grauer hit his first MLB homer in that win, and Tommy White went 4-for-5.
Perkins, also 26, entered 2-5 with a 6.87 ERA and 72 strikeouts in 57.2 innings. Action Network listed first pitch for 9:40 p.m. EDT on NBCS-CA, with the Diamondbacks favored at -134 and the Athletics at +116. The run line sat at Arizona -1.5, and the projected total was 9.5; one Action Network pick leaned Under 9 after a projection near 8.5 runs.
For Diamondbacks watchers, the night's bigger story was less the odds than a seventh 2026 debut, and whether Drake's road form finally travels to Chase Field.