The Arizona Diamondbacks just hit us with some major news right before the All-Star break, placing their ace, right-hander Zac Gallen, on the 15-day injured list. The reason? Right elbow inflammation. This isn't just a routine move either; Gallen was slated to start Sunday’s final game before the break, but manager Torey Lovullo had to pull the plug late Saturday after Gallen reportedly "felt something" and spoke up.
Gallen's Struggles and the D-backs' Desperate Move
Honestly, this move, while tough, isn't totally out of nowhere if you've been watching Gallen pitch lately. The guy has been in a serious slump for over a month now. We're talking 0-5 with a brutal 8.24 ERA over his past eight starts, a slide that goes all the way back to May 29. For the season, he’s sitting at a shocking 3-9 with a 6.34 ERA through 19 starts. This is a guy who was an NL All-Star in 2023 and finished third in Cy Young voting! To see him pitching like this, and now on the IL, it's just wild. Lovullo said they'll figure out a recovery timeline during the All-Star break, but bringing up 23-year-old left-hander Mitch Bratt to start against the Dodgers on Sunday? That's a huge shift. Bratt’s only made one other MLB appearance, letting up one run in three innings back on June 24. They're throwing him into the fire!All-Star Heartbreak for Kurtz and Bullpen Blows for Texas
The hits just keep coming for contenders heading into the break. Over in Oakland, Athletics slugger Nick Kurtz, who was absolutely crushing it and set to start at first base for the American League in the All-Star Game, got slapped on the 10-day injured list Saturday with a right thumb sprain. Seriously? The guy is only 23, was the AL Rookie of the Year last season, and is batting .266 with 20 dingers, 66 RBIs, and a league-leading 76 walks. He's a total beast, and now his All-Star debut is ripped away. MLB announced White Sox outfielder Tristan Peters is replacing him. Just brutal timing. Meanwhile, the Texas Rangers are dealing with their own bullpen nightmare. Veteran reliever Chris Martin, 40, landed on the 15-day IL on Sunday with a right shoulder injury. Again! He just came off the IL on July 4 for the same shoulder issue, and in four appearances since then, he’s coughed up five runs in 3 2/3 innings. This season, his ERA is a sky-high 9.00 across 16 games. They’ve recalled right-hander Emiliano Teodo from Triple-A, but man, that Texas bullpen just can't catch a break. What's next for these teams? For the D-backs, they've got to hope Gallen's elbow issue isn't serious, and Bratt can hold his own. For the A's, it's about holding down the fort without their young slugger and seeing how quickly Kurtz can get back on the field. The All-Star break usually means a breather, but for these clubs, it's going to be all about navigating these critical injuries and hoping for some fast healing.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.