Zac Gallen DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Zac Gallen had a respectable outing in Thursday's spring training matchup against the Athletics. He threw 4 innings, allowing five hits, two walks, two strikeouts, and one earned run. It was nothing flashy, but it was a good outing he can build off of, as Opening Day is less than a week away. Gallen has already been named the team's Opening Day starter for next Thursday, March 27, against the Chicago Cubs. Last season, Gallen saw a bit of a dip in production as his 3.47 ERA in 2023 rose to 3.65 in 2025. Gallen's strikeout rate also fell to a career-low 25.1%. Nonetheless, Gallen is a proven starter in the MLB. He should provide fantasy managers with a productive season, even with the D-backs bringing on Corbin Burnes during the off-season.

Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Zac Gallen will be the team's Opening Day starter next Thursday, March 27, against the Chicago Cubs, according to MLB.com's Steve Gilbert. It's a bit of a surprise that the D-backs didn't go with offseason acquisition Corbin Burnes, but instead they'll roll with the 29-year-old Gallen for the third straight year on Opening Day. Gallen has a little pressure off of him at the top of Arizona's rotation now that Burnes is in tow. He's not a fantasy ace by any means, but he makes for a solid No. 3 fantasy starter and should be rolled out there in his first start of the year against the Cubs. Gallen's strikeout rate fell to a career-low 25.1%, but he's notorious for being one of the best strike-throwers in the game. It seems unlikely that Gallen will ever be a fantasy ace again like he was in 2022, but you could do a lot worse as your SP2 or SP3.

The Arizona Diamondbacks avoided salary arbitration with right-hander Zac Gallen on Thursday by settling on a one-year, $13.5 million deal. In addition to Gallen, the D-backs also agreed to one-year deals with right-handers Kevin Ginkel and Ryan Thompson, left-handers Joe Mantiply, Kyle Nelson and A.J. Puk, and infielders Josh Naylor, Geraldo Perdomo and Pavin Smith. The 29-year-old Gallen will be Arizona's No. 2 starter in 2025 after they signed Corbin Burnes in free agency. Gallen missed time with a hamstring injury in 2024 and finished with a 3.65 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 156 strikeouts and 54 walks in 148 innings pitched. He's a very strong major-league pitcher but comes short of being an elite fantasy ace because of his 26.6% career strikeout rate. Gallen needs to return to his pinpoint control of the strike zone to deliver value as a second fantasy starting pitcher.