Arizona Diamondbacks fans, there’s some exciting news coming your way. Right-hander Zac Gallen, a key piece of the Diamondbacks’ rotation, took what is expected to be his final step before making his much-anticipated return from the injured list. On Monday, Gallen threw four innings in a simulated game at Salt River Fields, setting himself up to pitch this weekend against the Oakland Athletics at Chase Field.
“It was good,” said Diamondbacks pitching coach Brent Strom. “He was free and easy. He faced some pretty good hitters, so it was a good test for him. It was hot, but he did his work, which was necessary.”
Gallen managed to throw 67 pitches over those four innings. Among the hitters he faced were center fielder Alek Thomas, who is expected to shift his rehab assignment to Triple-A Reno, and prospect Tommy Troy, the club’s top pick last year. The Diamondbacks are optimistic that Gallen’s stint on the injured list will help him overcome his hamstring issues once and for all.
Here’s a quick recap of Gallen’s recent injury saga: He left an April 26 start in Seattle due to right hamstring tightness and subsequently skipped his next start. Although he returned to make four starts in May without any significant issues, he admitted after his May 18 outing against the Tigers that his hamstring was still tight. On May 30, during a start against the Mets at Citi Field, he threw just five pitches before walking off the mound in frustration. He was then diagnosed with a low-grade hamstring strain and placed on the injured list.
Gallen’s return would be a significant boost for the Diamondbacks, who have struggled to fill his spot in the rotation. Left-hander Tommy Henry stepped in but gave up 13 runs over 10 innings in his three appearances. “Gallen has been our best pitcher for a couple of years, and obviously, it’s going to settle everyone else into their appropriate slots,” Strom said. “Some of them have pitched fairly well as of late, which should add to their confidence. We’d love to get all three of them back. We’ll take it where we can get it at this moment in time.”
When Strom mentions “all three,” he’s referring to Gallen, Merrill Kelly, and Eduardo Rodriguez, who are all expected back sometime after the All-Star break. “I think they all see us kind of treading water right now,” Strom added. “It would be like making three major trades if we got all three of them back, without giving up anything.”
Meanwhile, Tuesday’s Diamondbacks-Twins pitching matchup is set to be an interesting one. Diamondbacks’ right-hander Brandon Pfaadt (3-6, 4.37 ERA) will face off against Twins’ right-hander Joe Ryan (5-5, 3.13 ERA). Pfaadt, who allowed three runs in 6 1/3 innings against the Nationals in his last start, will need to find his slider, which he said he didn’t have a good feel for in his previous outing. Opposing hitters have been hitting .385 with a 1.069 OPS against Pfaadt’s first pitches, compared to the major league averages of .331 and .900.
On the other hand, Ryan turned in six solid innings against the Rays in his most recent start, allowing just one run on six hits and one walk while striking out five. Ryan, a seventh-round pick by the Rays in 2021, was traded to the Twins as part of a July 2021 deal involving DH Nelson Cruz. Ryan relies primarily on his four-seam fastball and splitter, but he also uses a sweeper, slider, and a recently more frequent sinker.
Looking ahead, here’s the schedule for the rest of the week at Chase Field:
- Wednesday: Diamondbacks RHP Ryne Nelson (5-5, 5.18 ERA) vs. Twins RHP Simeon Woods Richardson (2-1, 3.26 ERA).
- Thursday: Diamondbacks LHP Jordan Montgomery (6-4, 5.71 ERA) vs. Twins RHP Chris Paddack (5-3, 5.29 ERA).
- Friday: Diamondbacks RHP Slade Cecconi (2-6, 5.74 ERA) vs. Athletics LHP JP Sears (4-7, 5.04 ERA).
As for the Minnesota Twins, they came into Monday’s game with a 43-35 record, sitting 7 1/2 games behind the first-place Cleveland Guardians in the American League Central. The Twins have been on a hot streak, winning 10 of their past 14 games, a run that coincides with the return of 3B Royce Lewis from the injured list on June 4. Lewis has been on fire, hitting .348 with three doubles and 10 homers in 18 games this season.
SS Carlos Correa is having a strong bounce-back year with a .304/.368/.491 line and eight homers. Also impressive is the 38-year-old Carlos Santana, who boasts a .247/.329/.441 line with 12 homers and 38 RBIs. However, the Twins’ pitching has been a mixed bag, ranking 10th in the AL with a 4.17 ERA. RHP Pablo Lopez, who had a stellar start on Sunday, has otherwise struggled with a 5.11 ERA.
So, Diamondbacks fans, get ready for an exciting week of baseball with the potential return of Zac Gallen and some intriguing matchups on the mound. Keep your eyes on the field as the team looks to make a push and get their key players back in the lineup.
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