Zac Gallen is still on track to start Saturday’s game against the Oakland Athletics. Appearing on the Burns and Gambo Show on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM, Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo called it the “worst kept secret in all of Major League Baseball”. Lovullo then said that his ace is “very ready and don’t be surprised if in the next 24 hours he’s our starting pitcher”.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Having Gallen back will help stabilize a rotation that has been trying to hold the fort with their top three starting pitchers on the injured list. Brandon Pfaadt has been the team’s most consistent starter the past month while the other starters are still trying to get their footing. Ryne Nelson, Jordan Montgomery, and Slade Cecconi have been alternating good and poor starts.
Eduardo RodrÃguez and Merrill Kelly are still further out. Lovullo told Jesse Friedman of PHNX Sports that RodrÃguez is scheduled for an MRI on July 6. Depending on the results of the MRI, the left-hander could start throwing from a mound again. Kelly is still aiming for a mid-August return.
Eduardo Rodriguez will have a follow-up MRI on July 6, manager Torey Lovullo said.
Depending on the results, E-Rod could throw off a mound soon after that, Lovullo added.
— Jesse Friedman (@JesseNFriedman) June 28, 2024
Center fielder Alek Thomas will continue his rehab with Triple-A Reno, after it was hinted last week he could return for the A’s series. He’ll play seven to nine innings with Triple-A Reno on Friday and Saturday. He went five to seven innings on back-to-back nights on Tuesday and Wednesday before a rest day on Thursday.
“We’re just cautiously walking this thing forward,” said Lovullo on the Burns and Gambo Show. “He never had a setback, it was never something where we said we got to start over. Let’s pull back a little bit, let’s be smart, he’s giving us information about fatigue and soreness, and we want him back as soon as possible.”
If Thomas is able to get through his next two games with Reno without issue, there’s a chance he could return for the Dodgers series on July 2. The team will need to make a tough decision on who to send out when the time comes.
When Thomas returns to the lineup, it should drastically improve the team’s defense at the position. Lovullo gave him an 80 grade for being able to run down baseballs in the gaps, with Carroll one grade down but rapidly improving his routes to the ball.
Catcher Gabriel Moreno will start a rehab assignment at the complex. Lovullo told Friedman that Moreno will catch five innings on Saturday. It was reported earlier in the week the Diamondbacks manager was optimistic that his catcher would only need to spend the minimum 10 days on the injured list with a left thumb sprain.
Gabriel Moreno will catch five innings in an AZL game on Saturday, manager Torey Lovullo said.
Lovullo said earlier this week that he feels good about Moreno being ready to return after the minimum 10 days. Moreno is first eligible to return on Tuesday against the Dodgers.
— Jesse Friedman (@JesseNFriedman) June 28, 2024
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Michael McDermott covers the Arizona Diamondbacks and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on X via @MichaelMcDMLB
