(Photo credit: Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

Arizona right-hander Brandon Pfaadt will make his first start of the 2025 season with the security of a new multi-year contract when the Diamondbacks host the Chicago Cubs on Saturday in Phoenix.

Pfaadt signed a five-year, $45 million contract Friday, again signaling the Diamondbacks' commitment to their young core.

'Brandon falls very much in the group of players that we feel like getting some certainty around,' Arizona general manager Mike Hazen said. 'What the future is going to look like is very important in terms of building a roster and keeping this team together for as long as we can. We feel like these things are important for us.'

Pfaadt is scheduled to oppose Cubs left-hander Shota Imanaga in the third game of the four-game set. The teams have split the first two.

Arizona third baseman Eugenio Suarez is off to a hot start, similar to the way he finished the 2024 season, when he had 24 of his 30 homers after July 1. In the first two games, he has three home runs and five RBIs.

Suarez hit a pair of two-run homers in the D-Backs' 8-1 victory Friday, and with his solo homer Thursday tied Luis Gonzalez's franchise record for homers in the first two games of a season.

'Geno was clearly the highlight,' Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said. 'Just a special day. Those are the ones you dream about from a player's standpoint, where you go out there and clip a couple of baseballs and do your job and help your team with a baseball game.'

Pfaadt was 11-10 with a 4.71 ERA in his first full season in the majors in 2024 after thriving in the Diamondbacks' run to the 2023 World Series. He made 32 starts and threw 181 2/3 innings last season, both team highs.

'He's done a great job over the last couple of years,' Hazen said. 'There have been some really big highlights for sure. The consistency that he brings to the table, from the worth ethic and the makeup and innings eating even at a young age, is something that we value tremendously.'

Pfaadt appears to have a favorable matchup Saturday. He is 1-1 with a 2.13 ERA in four previous appearances, three starts, against the Cubs.

Imanaga (0-0, 0.00 ERA) enters after a strong performance in his season opener, a 4-1 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in Tokyo on March 18 in which he did not factor in the decision.

Imanaga, the subject of much attention in a return to this home country, did not give up a hit in four innings against the Dodgers, walking four and striking out two.

'As much as anything, we were impressed in how he handled just a challenging week in what was asked of him,' Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. 'He continues to perform and entertain. He does all of it. It is fun to watch.'

Imanaga pitches primarily off a 92 mph four-seam fastball and an 82 mph splitter, and he increased his slider usage against the Dodgers in his first outing. He struck out 10 in seven innings in his one start against Arizona last season, taking a no-decision in a 2-1 extra-inning victory.

Imanaga debuted in the majors last season after eight seasons in Japan. He was 15-3 with a 2.91 ERA in 29 starts and made the National League All-Star team.--Field Level Media