With Opening Day just two days away, Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo has unveiled his club’s starting rotation.
However, this rotation is subject to change, as the D-backs are commencing the season without newly acquired Eduardo Rodriguez, who is on the IL due to a left lat strain he suffered a week ago.
Previously confirmed, Zac Gallen will lead the Diamondbacks’ Opening Day roster, taking the mound against the Colorado Rockies on Thursday at 7:10 PM in front of the home crowd at Chase Field.
Following Gallen will be Merrill Kelly, who is entering the season off the back of a career-best 2023 campaign, boasting a 3.29 ERA and 187 strikeouts in 177 innings pitched. Kelly provided a significant boost for Arizona in the postseason, delivering three remarkable starts where he allowed just two earned runs over 18.1 innings.
Third in the rotation will be Tommy Henry, a somewhat surprising choice as Brandon Pfaadt, another player who saw tremendous success in the postseason, has been bumped down to fourth. Nevertheless, excluding October, Pfaadt endured a forgettable rookie season, not securing his first win until August after starting the year 0-6.
Rounding out the rotation in the fifth spot will be Ryne Nelson, who is also coming off a forgettable rookie season with a 5.31 ERA, resulting in some time spent in Triple-A Reno.
Lovullo did not mention whom Eduardo Rodriguez will replace when he returns from his injury.
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