With the 2025 MLB season starting next Thursday, the Arizona Diamondbacks finally have their rotation set in stone it seems. Though, with head coach Torey Lovullo naming pitcher Zac Gallen to start opening day, that will shift things around a little bit.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!This makes it so Corbin Burnes wont make his Diamondbacks debut until that series in New York against the Yankees, and will see Merrill Kelly get the second start of the season against the Chicago Cubs. Corbin Burnes has some familiarity in New York after two games he pitched while in Milwaukee and in Baltimore. He has fared well over there with 16 strikeouts and a 0.69 era over 13 innings.
Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen (L-R) and managing general partner Ken Kendrick hold a jersey with new starting pitcher Corbin Burnes during an introductory press conference at Chase Field. © Patrick Breen/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Head Coach Torey Lovullo spoke on Corbin Burnes and also took responsibility for this whole situation, “He’s an elite human being, he’s an elite pitcher with an elite routine that I don’t want to get in the way of. So I could have said, ‘You have to,’ it’s just not what I believe in.”
Torey Lovullo on scheduling lineup:
Torey Lovullo blames himself for Corbin Burnes not starting until the Dbacks fifth game of the season.
Here’s his full explanation on the scheduling mishap.
“I was really suffering through this whole process because I wanted to do what’s right by the player.”@12SportsAZ pic.twitter.com/eybVqDU7eJ
— Jake García (@Jake_M_Garcia) March 23, 2025
The starting five seem to be set, as Eduardo Rodriguez and Brandon Pfaadt will round out the rotation. Jordan Montgomery and Ryne Nelson will both be slated to start the season in the bullpen. The first series of the season begins this Thursday, March 27th, against the Chicago Cubs. The pitching rotation will look like this:
- Zac Gallen – (Opening Day) Thursday, March 27
- Merrill Kelly- Friday, March 28
- Brandon Pfaadt – Saturday, March 29
- Eduardo Rodriguez – Sunday, March 30
Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Brandon Pfaadt throws during a rain shower during spring training workouts at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on Feb. 14, 2025, in Scottsdale. © Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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Reporter Benjamin Bliklen covers the Arizona Diamondbacks for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @BenBliklen
