Diamondbacks right-hander Zac Gallen will make his first start of the season on Tuesday, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com tweets. The Diamondbacks had to open the year without Gallen, their No. 1 starter, as a result of a hairline fracture he suffered in his right forearm roughly three weeks ago. Gallen thrived with the Marlins and D-backs during his first two years in the majors, in which he combined for a 2.78 ERA and struck out 28.5 percent of batters in 152 innings.
Here’s more regarding Arizona and a couple of other National League teams…
- The Mets’ Carlos Carrasco suffered a torn hamstring last month, but manager Luis Rojas said Monday that the righty “is doing really good right now,” per Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. Carrasco is stretched out to throw four innings and will soon report to the Mets’ alternate site to begin fielding work, according to DiComo. Still, there isn’t an exact timeline for the offseason acquisition’s Mets debut. It was reported when Carrasco went down that he would need six to eight weeks to recover, so he could still be another month-plus away.
- Righty Dinelson Lamet won’t rejoin the Padres’ rotation until he pitches at least one more time at their alternate site, Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune tweets. Lamet has been delayed while working back from elbow issues that brought a premature end to a breakout 2020 effort in which he put up a 2.09 ERA/3.16 SIERA in 69 innings and finished fourth in NL Cy Young voting. The Padres have roared to an 8-3 start without Lamet, but he should make the World Series hopefuls even more formidable upon his return.
- The Diamondbacks placed first baseman Christian Walker on the 10-day injured list Monday with a right oblique strain and recalled infielder/outfielder Andrew Young to take his spot, per a team announcement. Whether Walker will need more than 10 days to recover isn’t known, but oblique problems often lead to extended absences. Before going on the IL, Walker amassed 44 plate appearances and hit .179/.250/.282 – a far cry from the .271/.333/.459 line he posted in 243 PA last year.
If Carrasco is already stretched out to four innings, his arm sounds ready to return within two weeks.
Absent the possibility of aggravating the hamstring sprinting/running the bases, he’s probably back sooner on an AL team.
Which is another example of why the universal DH makes better sense in a modern position specialized, MLB world.
As I still agree with the universal DH, I don’t see Carrasco reaching base very much this year having not been hitting for over a decade. Only a force out at second would allow him to reach base at first for the most part. I’d be willing to bet he wouldn’t reach base more than 10 times the rest of the season. Which is actually the biggest reason to get rid of pitchers hitting as that is boring AF
I wouldn’t even allow him to swing the bat at least for two starts. Glad he is progressing.
He still has to cover 1st and back up the catcher. He may have to snag a dribbler. He could re-aggravate his hamstring in several ways. Re the universal DH: Pitcher is a position on the baseball field and on a lineup card. All positions should play offense AND defense. All pitchers should hit when their name comes up. If you want to ADD a position of designated hitter to have 10 spots in the lineup, fine. There’s several instances of 2-way players getting drafted. Develop them as such.
Until Colon hits a homer! The crowd goes wild because “chicks dig the long ball.”
Though I too loved it, it was his .084 lifetime batting average that made me cringe about big sexy. The NL game is boring, DH or bat only 8, which is practically what it already is + a free out.
It’s funny not having DH this year has reminded me how much I prefer the NL. I’m loving it. And it’s not about the pitchers hitting as much as it’s about the managers managing. But whatever. The DH is coming next season and that’s fine. I do think it’s crazy that the AL and NL have completely different rules.
Love the dh, but I wouldnt be against the guy who made last out as a pinch runner
I don’t see how having one bad bat in the lineup somehow transforms baseball from exciting to boring.
Why are the Padres even looking at bringing Lamet back right now? He’s clearly walking a thin line of health and games in April/ May mean nothing. I’d bring him back around 4th of July.
Games in April/May mean nothing?
One extra loss could mean the difference between having to play a 1 game WC game and a full Playoff Series.
The Padres have built a team that can win any multiple game series….but ANY team can win one game.
April/May losses count just the same as September losses in the Standings
How are they fairing right now without him? Are they are a sinking ship without him pitching every fifth day? They aren’t. He has AT BEST 100 innings to pitch this year (that’s very optimistic). If you start that clock May 1 good luck seeing any post season action with him.
What good is winning enough games to avoid a WC if you have to use Chris Paddack and Ryan Weathers when you get there?
The Padres are a legit World Series contender this year. They need to act like it.
99 – let me start by saying, I defer to medical staff and Lamet on the decision so I have no opinion on the actual issue of his return. I do however, believe that if he can help win the division and isn’t available for playoffs like you suggest, I’ll take that. Darvish, Snell and Musgrove starting 2 each in a 7 game series works for me. By then, weathers, Gore, Paddack or a bullpen day for game 4 – works for me. In theory, Clev could be back in October – not counting on of course, just saying pads have 4 or 5 options in October for a game 4. Let’s get there and then worry about game 4.
Wow, way to shift the goal posts and ignore what the response was actually responding to.
Each regular season game means the same when it comes down to it, you can’t really argue that point.
The options after Darvish/ Snell you pointed out are knives in a gun fight in October, especially if they end up against the Dodgers.
99 – you do realize Musgrove: (a) just threw a no hitter; and (b) has not allowed an earned run in 2 starts, in 2021; and (c) didn’t allow an earned run in his last start of 2020 (maybe 2 even but who’s counting), right.
1984 – if you are saying that I didn’t respond to the response, I ask you to look at the second to last paragraph of what 99 said – my response was directly related to his question.
If I misinterpreted, apologies.
Musgrove has broken out. Too bad he won’t be available this weekend against LA.
Brewer – I have no idea where, but I read during off-season that Musgrove was named in some publication as “the next breakout pitcher in MLB”. Looking like they knew what they were talking about so far – probably feeding off of his last 4-5 starts in 2020.
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Thats why they paid for potential more than what he did. He was improving with the pirates, when he came from Houston known as a spot starter or reliever. After 2 yrs of starting he has advanced well. Sd made sure they had the best offer
Also….either Lamet will avoid surgery or he won’t.
Won’t matter much if he gets his innings now or in the Summer.
Waiting 3 more months only makes his recovery 3 months later if the pain returns.
@mrpad19
Exactly, they’ve build his arm back very slowly according to script and he’s ready. He and the medical team say he’s ready. Suspending him until summer alters the progression in his PT and could actually create problems. The time is now to learn if he can pitch or not.
I never liked that saying. That the early games mean nothing. While I get that in September when things are tight you take more risks or let pitchers go on no rest or whatever it may be. But that is because the finish line is there in sight and you have nothing else to fight for at the end of the year. Early in the year while you may be more cautious to not injure a player for the long haul ahead, it doesn’t mean that April 23rd is less important a win or loss as September 6. Every single game is important. That’s why we watch in April and May and not just the last two weeks of September.
Seems like it’s only a baseball saying, due to the long season. In the NFL losses in the first month can make or break a season. In the NL this year the wildcard teams will likely need 95 win seasons and the Pads are shooting for at least that.
Sure. The MLB season is ten times as long as the NFL’s. So one loss in the NFL is 10 in MLB.
Yep, 95 wins and then they get to face someone like Scherzer, deGrom or Flaherty in a one game wildcard to make or break their entire season.
WC series should be at least best of three games, IMHO.
I really don’t like the one game wildcard.
Thats why they paid for potential more than what he did. He was improving with the pirates, when he came from Houston known as a spot starter or reliever. After 2 yrs of starting he has advanced well. Sd made sure they had the best offer