Zac Gallen Makes 2024 Spring Debut
Zac Gallen will make his long-anticipated debut this spring when the Diamondbacks take on the Texas Rangers in Surprise today. Today's game is radio only, with Rangers audio, but will be part of a webcast accessible on dbacks.com.
Gallen is expected to make four starts before Opening Day. The D-backs have been slow-playing Gallen and Merrill Kelly this spring after riding the two hard in the postseason last season. The plan is for Gallen to get three innings and around 45 pitches today.
The thing to watch for Gallen will be the crispness of stuff, as he's coming off a heavy workload in 2023. He threw 210 innings in the regular season, followed by 33 2/3 in the postseason. It was a 60-inning jump compared to his previous career-high in innings, 184 in the 2022 season.
Other scheduled pitchers for today include Slade Cecconi, Ryan Thompson, and Kyle Nelson. Thompson is a lock for the Opening Day roster as a key setup man in the bullpen. Cecconi is one of the pitchers competing for the final rotation spot and Nelson is competing for a spot in the D-backs bullpen. Jose Castillo, Josh Green, and Humberto Castellanos are the other pitchers still in major league camp.
Lineups and Notes
D-backs at Rangers Lineups: March 7, 2024
Michael McDermott
First baseman Christian Walker also makes his return to the lineup. Walker has been out since being hit in the right hand by a pitch on February 29th, narrowly avoiding a serious injury. X-rays were negative on Walker, as he dealt with a right hand contusion for the past week.
Manager Torey Lovullo clarified that Jace Peterson will be starting at DH today. On Tuesday, Lovullo accidentally wrote "Peterson" in the lineup at DH instead of Joc Pederson.
Merrill Kelly is also expected to make his first spring start tomorrow against the Chicago Cubs at Salt River Fields. Like Gallen, expect Kelly to get four starts to get ready for the season.
Roster Cuts
The D-backs re-assigned the following players to minor league camp: RHP Luke Albright, RHP Dakota Chalmers, RHP Francisco Morales, RHP Chris Rodriguez, LHP Brandon Hughes, 1B Tristin English, OF Kristian Robinson. 53 players remain in big league camp.
