Zac Gallen’s tenure as the ace of the Arizona Diamondbacks hung in the balance this week as his name repeatedly surfaced in trade speculation.
But Thursday’s deadline passed without Gallen being dealt. The right-hander looks to move on and Arizona seeks a halt to its season-worst six-game losing streak in Saturday night’s game against the Athletics at West Sacramento, Calif.
Gallen was on the block because he is slated to become a free agent after the season. His mindset for the rest of the season is certainly something to watch.
So naturally, Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo had a discussion with Gallen on Friday.
“I wanted to call him in and just talk shop with him and see how he was doing,” Lovullo told reporters. “He handled it all well, as good as you could possibly think. He’s one-fifth of the rotation that’s left here that we feel really good about.
“I wanted to call him just to see where he’s at emotionally. He seems to be in a very good spot. He’s ready to go out and compete like he always is.”
It has been a tough season for Gallen, who placed third in National League Cy Young balloting in 2023 and fifth in 2022.
Gallen (7-12, 5.60 ERA) is struggling through the worst season of his seven years in the majors.
His ERA and WHIP (1.354) are the worst marks in his career. In just 127 innings, he has served up a career-worst 23 homers, which ties for second-most allowed in the majors.
Gallen, who turns 30 on Sunday, gave up just 13 homers in 148 innings last season.
Arizona general manager Mike Hazen thinks Gallen can salvage his season.
“He’s not pitching the way he has the past few years and that’s on us to get him straightened out,” Hazen told Arizona Sports.
Gallen has lost three straight starts and has allowed 16 runs in 17 innings during the span for an 8.47 ERA. He lost to the Pittsburgh Pirates last Sunday after giving up four runs and five hits over six innings.
Gallen is 1-0 with a 1.06 ERA in three career starts against the Athletics. Luis Urias (2-for-10) has homered off Gallen.
Arizona’s struggles continued Friday night with a 5-1 setback in the opener of a three-game series. The Diamondbacks have lost nine of their past 10 contests.
Their opponent, the Athletics, have won three straight and seven of their past eight games. The A’s have smacked 18 homers during the eight-game stretch.
The A’s played solid baseball Friday night after a frenzied trading deadline that saw the franchise move fireballing closer Mason Miller to the San Diego Padres.
Shea Langeliers hit a two-run homer and had three hits to continue his strong play. He is 12-for-29 (.414) with five homers over the past seven games.
“It’s feeling good right now,” Langeliers said afterward. “I’m trying to keeping it simple, swing at the right pitches, get my ‘A’ swing off. The biggest thing is being on time consistently. When you’re on time consistently, you give yourself the best chance to succeed.”
Tyler Soderstrom added two hits and an RBI for the Athletics, who scored four-first inning runs.
“The boys came out hot. We scored runs early,” Soderstrom said. “We’re always trying to get ahead and build on that the rest of the game.”
Right-hander J.T. Ginn (2-2, 3.89) will start for the Athletics and will look to follow up a stellar outing.
Ginn, 26, allowed three hits in six scoreless innings during a 7-1 victory over the Houston Astros last Sunday. He struck out four and didn’t walk anyone.
Ginn has struck out 47 and walked just 10 in 44 innings this season.
Ginn has never faced the Diamondbacks.