The Diamondbacks announced that right-hander Zac Gallen has been placed on the 15-day injured list due to a right hamstring strain. Fellow righty Slade Cecconi has been recalled in a corresponding move.
Gallen, 28, took the ball in last night’s game against the Mets but departed after just six pitches, with the club later announcing the hamstring strain. There were some signs pointing to a mild injury, as manager Torey Lovullo told Arizona Sports’ Burns & Gambo show earlier today that he expected Gallen to miss one start without going on the IL, as relayed by Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports. Though it seems the club decided to put him on the IL after all, putting him out of action for the next two weeks at least.
Even if it does prove to be a short absence, it’s not good news for the Snakes, as Gallen has emerged as one of the better pitchers in baseball in recent years. In 725 career innings, he has allowed 3.20 earned run per nine frames. Since the start of 2022, he has a 3.05 ERA, 26.3% strikeout rate, 6.1% walk rate and 43.3% ground ball rate.
Subtracting that kind of performance would hurt any rotation but it’s especially concerning for the Diamondbacks, as Gallen now joins Merrill Kelly and Eduardo Rodríguez on the injured list. The defending National League champions have gotten out to a slow start so far this year and are currently 25-31. Climbing back into a playoff position will be tough without those three pitchers and neither Kelly nor Rodríguez have started a rehab assignment yet, so the club will definitely be hoping that Gallen just needs a quick breather before returning.
For now, the club’s rotation consists of Jordan Montgomery, Brandon Pfaadt, Ryne Nelson, Blake Walston and Cecconi. Both Nelson and Cecconi have an ERA over 6.00. Montgomery is at 4.69 and Pfaadt at 4.16. Walston’s ERA is just 2.16 but in a tiny sample of 8 1/3 innings. Tommy Henry is on optional assignment, though he has a 5.40 ERA in the majors so far this year. Cristian Mena is also on the 40-man roster but has yet to make his major league debut.
Crap.
Crap is right, I’ve been watching baseball since 1957 and when you had a rotation back then they lasted all year long.
250, 260 innings per year.
Now it’s a big deal if you reach 175 innings/year
I really can’t believe when announcers say a pitcher pitched 21 pitches 2 nights previously and they might be ready? For millions /year, they might be ready? Ugh
Curly
I mean, pitchers could still pitch that many innings. If they gave up like 6 runs per 9.
Baseball is a lot different than it was half a century ago. Everybody is better.
CBeisbol, I respect your post, but they pitched 9 innings each and barely gave up 1 or 2 runs. Baseball is a lot different now than it was half a century ago. Everybody is now compliant to $700million contracts, seriously?
Let’s start over…
Because the hitters sucked compared to today’s hitters.
The pitchers and hitters of today are much better than those of half a century ago
Also, in 1957 teams averaged 4.3 runs per game.
So, no, they didn’t give up 1 to 2 runs in 9 innings
In 2023 , teams averaged 4.6 runs per game.
Not everybody is better. There’s nearly twice as many teams and rosters are larger. You have to suspect that some players hide on the IL while pay is guaranteed. Some players NEVER have to play a single inning and still get paid crazy salaries.
Garry
Everybody is better
I do not have to suspect that at all
Players get ripped 9ff in the minors and first 6+ years of their careers
@Curly: What you failed to mention is that players back then were underpaid and illegally exploited via the reserve system, and they were forced or forced themselves to play with injuries that sometimes shortened or ended their careers because effective treatments were unknown or unavailable.
I’m not sure why you think that was so great.
Curly that’s because they pitched under-hand way back then.
Maybe if he wasn’t so busy eating cheetos or lifting weights he could stay healthy.
Oh wait. Wrong post…..
Dude’s taken every start forever. Pillar of health. But the bug comes for everyone if you throw a ball for a living.
Whoever collects the most pitching wins this year!
Arizona needs some better luck and a little positive momentum. This isn’t it.
Nothing that a series vs the lowly Mets can’t fix
That’s what we been saying with the Diamondbacks in other occasions as well, like against the Marlins a week ago. This team just doesn’t know how to stay healthy and do things right this year.
Tough week for groins, lats and hammys. Especially hammys, at least for Zac, Yu, Alek, Avisail, Drury and Jorge Polanco
Schmark Clidt too
Cy Young leader sure looks like the Lone Ranger
Let’s talk to Stormy, if anyone can make a Gallen of it disappear she can
Each one of those holds a gallon, Curly?