​PHOENIX — The Arizona Diamondbacks have lost another member of their rotation, as the club placed right-hander Zac Gallen on the injured list Sunday afternoon. While Gallen’s IL placement dominated the headlines, there was also focus on what the move means for a team already dealing with a rash of injuries and how his 2026 season has unfolded. It hasn’t been easy, and fans are well aware of the struggle.
Gallen was scratched from his scheduled Sunday start against the Los Angeles Dodgers, meaning he will head into the All-Star break with a 6.34 ERA — among the higher marks for qualified starters in the majors. For a pitcher who finished among the top three in National League Cy Young Award voting just three years ago, the drop has been jarring. Yet regardless of his performance, this latest setback further weakens an already thin rotation.
He becomes the third established Diamondbacks starter currently sidelined, joining Ryne Nelson and Michael Soroka. The result is a club that is already fighting to stay in the postseason picture leaning even more on its depth within the organization.
Even if Gallen hadn’t been pitching up to expectations, Arizona still trusted that he could eat innings and perhaps rediscover the form that once made him one of baseball’s most reliable starters. To fill the gap, Arizona recalled Mitch Bratt to take Gallen’s spot in Sunday’s lineup. Bratt debuted in the majors on June 24 against the St. Louis Cardinals. Now he is not only tasked with facing the reigning World Series champions, but also with helping the Diamondbacks tread water as they try to snag one more win before the All-Star break.
This injury underscores why the latest setback is so consequential. The Snakes had built organizational depth to withstand injuries, yet they are now compelled to lean on it more heavily. With Gallen joining Nelson, Soroka and Corbin Burnes — who remains out with his own injury — Arizona’s margin for error has grown even thinner.
Sunday’s game and the post-break period will reveal just how resilient this pitching staff can be. For a team with playoff ambitions, the challenge is no longer simply waiting for its top arms to return. They must navigate a substantive stretch without one of their dependable workhorses, cultivates depth, and find a way to keep the rotation competitive while they await healthier days ahead.