PHOENIX — The Arizona Diamondbacks will need to make a decision regarding their starting rotation as their pitching depth has created a problem — and not necessarily a bad one to have.
Sep 8, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Corbin Burnes (39) delivers a pitch against the Kansas City Royals during the first inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images
As the season winds down and the club continues to play for a playoff spot, many of their starting pitchers are finding themselves back off the injured list. Before then, Arizona had to rely on two bullpen games to get them through games against the Philadelphia Phillies and the Kansas City Royals.
Now, with more of their starters returning, the Diamondbacks suddenly have options they didn’t have just weeks ago.
Corbin Burnes, after being away for over a year, made his season debut Tuesday in Kansas City and threw three innings with two strikeouts, two walks and two hits without allowing a run. Manager Torey Lovullo revealed that he would start again against the Miami Marlins next week.
May 23, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Zac Gallen (23) prepares to throw a pitch against the Colorado Rockies during the first inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Anna Carrington-Imagn Images
But with a sudden increase in starting pitching, the D-Backs may be forced to use two of them in the same game as a piggyback again if they don’t want to go to a six-man rotation. The question remains: Who starts it, and who goes in after?
Zac Gallen and Michael Soroka also made their way back from injury, with the first piggyback test coming in Game 3 in Kansas City. It wasn’t exactly how the Snakes wanted it to go, with Gallen allowing two runs in 3.1 innings with plenty of hard contact and Soroka surrendering a three-run homer in the loss over 4.0 innings.
May 6, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Michael Soroka in the first inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Still, the biggest takeaway was that both pitchers were able to contribute meaningful length in their outings and are stretched out enough to pitch deep into games. Now comes determining which one gives them the best chance to cover the most innings efficiently — and whether that means starting the game or coming in after the first pitcher has done his part.
“We’ve got to make that decision. Who’s going to help us get the most outs and pitch deep into the game? And it’s a hard decision,” Lovullo said pregame Friday night. “Both have given their heart and soul to this team for the entire year and battled injuries. So we’re going to thoroughly look at everything that we possibly can… I believe the decision is going to be a very hard one, but we got to win baseball games, and whoever helps us win baseball games by starting and going deep into the game by limiting runs. That’ll be the key factor.”
Torey Lovullo on the upcoming decision for the starting rotation after piggybacking Zac Gallen and Michael Soroka on Wednesday. pic.twitter.com/1FpvVsDB1h
— Alex Weiner (@alexjweiner) September 12, 2026
The Diamondbacks have something they didn’t have when the injuries piled up: choices.
But with the season entering its final stretch, they may not have much time to figure out which choice gives them the best chance to win.
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Wendy Lopez is a reporter for Burn City Sports. You can follow her on her X account, @wlopezde
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