Diamondbacks right-hander Zac Gallen was scratched from his next scheduled start due to elbow inflammation, relays Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic. The injury could require an IL stint. Piecoro adds that lefty Mitch Bratt is expected to be recalled to start on Sunday.
Gallen is stumbling through his worst season as a big leaguer. He’s posted a 6.34 ERA across 19 starts. The righty ranks in the 2nd percentile with a 6.49 xERA. His xFIP and SIERA are near 5.00. Gallen has a career-low 13.9% strikeout rate in 98 innings. That number hasn’t been below 21% in any of his previous seven MLB seasons.
While he’s maintained his normal velocity, Gallen’s top three pitches have been obliterated this season. Opponents are hitting .331 with a .545 SLG against Gallen’s fastball. His curveball and slider both have a -7 Run Value, per Statcast. Gallen has the fourth-worst total Run Value among qualified pitchers at -19.
Gallen entered free agency coming off an uninspiring 2025 campaign. He delivered a 4.83 ERA with less than a strikeout per inning. Gallen did top 30 starts for the third time as a big leaguer, but the results reduced his appeal on the market. He ultimately returned to Arizona on a one-year deal in February. Gallen rejected the qualifying offer in November, only to sign for the same $22.025MM figure, albeit with deferrals.
The 30-year-old Gallen has avoided significant injuries with Arizona. He had a brief scare in 2021 when he was diagnosed with an elbow sprain. It ended up being a minor issue that only cost him about a month of action. Gallen missed four weeks in 2024 with a hamstring strain. He’s been a consistent presence in Arizona’s rotation outside of those two injuries.
Bratt will get another look in the big leagues after a respectable debut. The lefty tossed three innings of one-run ball against the Cardinals in late June. Bratt came to the organization at last year’s trade deadline in the deal that sent Merrill Kelly to the Rangers. He’s recorded a 2.41 ERA with a 25.2% strikeout rate in 13 starts at Triple-A this year.
Photo courtesy of Rick Scuteri, Imagn Images
