Tag: Zac Gallen

Diamondbacks turn to Zac Gallen to win Wild Card series

Former UNC baseball ace Zac Gallen will get the start in Game 2 for the Arizona Diamondbacks against the Milwaukee Brewers.

The Arizona Diamondbacks are one win away from moving on in the NL Playoffs after rallying to take Game 1 on Tuesday night in Milwaukee.

And they will turn to their ace, Zac Gallen on Wednesday to get the job done.

The former North Carolina standout will get the start Wednesday night in Milwaukee with the chance to advance the Diamondbacks. The Brewers have yet to name a starter and this would normally be a spot for Brandon Woodruff to start, however, he will miss the series with an injury.

This has been set up nicely for the Diamondbacks, getting a Game 1 win with a Brandon Pfaadt start.

After trailing 3-0, Arizona fought back and scored four straight runs to grab a 4-3 lead. They added two more in the top of the ninth with a Christian Walker double for the 6-3 lead. Arizona’s bullpen was fantastic in Game 1, allowing 0 runs and dominating towards the end.

Gallen started 34 games this season, going 17-9 with a 3.47 ERA for the Diamondbacks, leading the way for the staff. If Gallen and Arizona are able to win in Game 2, it would be their first playoff series win since 2007, although they did win the 2017 Wild Card Game.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

Thanks to former Tar Heel Zac Gallen, Diamondbacks clinging to playoff spot

Former UNC baseball standout Zac Gallen has the Arizona Diamondbacks in the postseason hunt, in part due to performances like Friday’s.

The Arizona Diamondbacks have been one of the worst teams in baseball over the past three seasons.

They finished fourth in the NL West last year, but lost 110 games in 2021, tying the Baltimore Orioles for the worst record in baseball.

This year’s a different story – and it’s all thanks to a young man by the name of Zac Gallen.

With a 15-7 record (third-best), 3.31 ERA (11th), 195 strikeouts (sixth) and 1.08 WHIP (ninth), the former UNC standout has the Diamondbacks a half-game in front of the Miami Marlins for the final NL Wild Card spot.

Gallen’s impressive season includes a complete-game shutout on Friday against the Chicago Cubs, who – coincidentally – also hold a wild-card spot. Gallen allowed only three hits, a walk, a hit batter and struck out nine Cubs.

This was just the second complete game and first nine-inning shutout for Gallen, who previously tossed a 7-inning shutout back in 2021.

Adding to Gallen’s already-impressive game, which came against a Cubs team the Diamondbacks could very well see in the postseason, was the fact he became only the fifth pitcher in franchise history to win a 1-0 shutout on the road.

Gallen’s next start comes against the most surprising team in baseball this year, the Orioles, who have the best record in all of baseball. Like Arizona, Baltimore is two season removed from the worst record in baseball.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

Gallen’s gem helps Diamondbacks win fourth straight

Former UNC baseball pitcher Zac Gallen is atop the Cy Young leaderboard as the Arizona Diamondbacks’ staff ace. He just pitched another gem.

Since beating the New York Yankees on a walk-off in Game 7 of the 2001 World Series, postseason success is not something that’s come easy to the Arizona Diamondbacks.

They most recently made the 2017 postseason, winning the Wild Card game against the Colorado Rockies, then losing to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS.

The past three years have not fared well for Arizona, with them finishing last or second-to-last in the AL West.

Even though baseball is a team game, there’s one player who might help the Diamondbacks snap that postseason drought – former UNC baseball pitcher Zac Gallen.

The New Jersey-born right-hander is having a career year for the D-Backs, one that has him a favorite for the NL Cy Young (best pitcher) Award. Gallen carries a 14-5 record (tied for best record in baseball), a 3.11 earned run average, 179 strikeouts and a 1.06 WHIP (walks hits per innings pitched, all 5th-best).

Gallen just enjoyed another pitching gem last night – tossing six innings, striking out 11 batters, allowing seven hits, one walk and just one walk in a 6-3 D-Backs victory over the slumping Texas Rangers.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CwRc5uyOtKm/?img_index=1

Gallen currently has Arizona in the NL West’s second-place slot behind the Los Angeles Dodgers. More importantly, the Diamondbacks currently hold a playoff spot, with them clinging onto a half-game lead over the San Francisco Giants and Cincinnati Reds.

In three seasons at Carolina (2014-2016), Gallen posted a career statline of 14 wins and 13 losses, 3.36 career ERA, 231 strkeouts and just 12 home runs allowed.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

Zac Gallen to start MLB All-Star Game for NL

Former UNC baseball pitcher Zac Gallen will get the start for the National League in the MLB All-Star Game.

Former North Carolina Tar Heels’ baseball player Zac Gallen will start for the National League in the 2023 MLB All-Star Game.

Gallen was named the starter on Monday by manager Rob Thomson of the Philadelphia Phillies. The 27-year-old is the first Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher to start the All-Star Game since Curt Schilling in 2002. He’s the third different Diamondbacks’ pitcher to start the All-Star Game joining Schilling and Randy Johnson (2000, 2001).

The former Tar Heel has become the ace of the Diamondbacks staff posting an 11-3 record with a 3.04 ERA and 125 strikeouts. Through the first half of the season, Gallen has emerged as a frontrunner for the NL Cy Young Award. 

Gallen has been a big reason why the Diamondbacks are 52-39 and tied for first place in the NL West with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The 2023 MLB All-Star Game is set to take place in Seattle on Tuesday with first pitch scheduled for 8 p.m. ET. It will be broadcasted live on FOX.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

Zac Gallen named to NL All-Star Team

Former UNC baseball pitcher Zac Gallen has been named to the MLB All-Star Game.

Former North Carolina baseball standout Zac Gallen is heading to Seattle for the 2023 MLB All-Star Game.

As one of the best pitchers in all of baseball so far this season, Gallen was selected to be a member of the National League team for the All-Star Game, his first appearance of his career. Gallen was officially named to the team on Sunday night as the rosters were revealed.

In 17 starts this season, Gallen is 10-3 with a 3.15 ERA for the Arizona Diamondbacks. He’s developed into one of the best pitchers not only in the National League but in all of baseball and has emerged as a legit Cy Young candidate.

With the pitching of Gallen as the team’s ace, Arizona has jumped out to a 3 game lead in the NL West over the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Diamondbacks have been a surprise team this season and are hoping to be legit contenders in the NL

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

Zac Gallen dominates the Colorado Rockies Tuesday night

Former Tar Heel pitcher Zac Gallen dominates the Colorado Rockies Tuesday night.

Another dominating game is in the books for former Tar Heel [autotag]Zac Gallen[/autotag], who continues to shine as the ace pitcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Gallen was remarkable last year, finishing 5th in NL Cy Young voting after ending the season with a 12-4 record and an ERA of 2.54. Picking up from where he left off last season, Gallen has shown complete control from the mound. Tuesday night, the ace pitcher shined again by dominating the Colorado Rockies’ hitting lineup.

Gallen pitched six innings, sitting down seven batters with strikeouts while allowing five hits and two walks. The 27-year-old finished the game with an ERA of 2.72, matching his season average in that category.

Gallen has become one of the best pitchers in the MLB and continues to become one of the pivotal Tar Heels in the pros. Gallen was drafted in the third round of the 2016 MLB draft by the St. Louis Cardinals.

Since then, Gallen worked his way to the big stage and slowly garnered attention as one of the pitchers to watch.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

Zac Gallen sits atop MLB Network pitcher power rankings

Former UNC baseball standout Zac Gallen is atop the MLB pitcher power rankings as May starts to come to a close.

Former North Carolina Tar Heels’ pitcher Zac Gallen is having himself a really good start to the 2023 MLB season. As May winds down, Gallen is 6-2 with a 2.95 ERA for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Gallen is also the early favorite for the NL Cy Young Award in front of Atlanta’s Spencer Strider. The pitcher has really developed into an ace for the Diamondbacks as they are off to a fast start in the NL West.

And now Gallen is getting some extra recognition.

MLB Network put out their power rankings for starting pitchers on Monday, and sitting at the top of that list is Gallen. He beat out Strider, Sonny Gray, Gerrit Cole and Eduardo Rodriguez among others.

It’s still very early in the season but this start is encouraging for Gallen who has got better and better as the years in his career have gone on. The challenge for Gallen now is to keep this up and carry it through the rest of the regular season.

If he does that, the Diamondbacks should continue to find success and Gallen could be taking home some hardware.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

Zac Gallen kills bird with warm up pitch

Former North Carolina star Zac Gallen had a rare feat on Wednesday afternoon despite not pitching in the game.

Former North Carolina pitcher Zac Gallen is off to a hot start this season and is the odds on favorite here in May for the NL Cy Young award. While he’s 6-1 on the year and has helped the Arizona Diamondbacks to an impressive start, it was what happened on Wednesday that had the internet talking.

During a warm-up session in Oakland hours before the Diamondbacks win, Gallen hit and killed a bird with a pitch. Yes, he did the same thing Randy Johnson did back in 2001 as a member of the Diamondbacks during a Spring Training game.

Watch as Gallen hits the bird during warm ups:

It was pretty crazy when Johnson did it over 20 years ago and now Gallen doing it as a member of the Diamondbacks is very unique as well.

Johnson would go on to win the Cy Young that year for the Diamondbacks and maybe Gallen will follow up with one as well.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

Diamondbacks pitcher Zac Gallen somehow hit a bird with a pitch during warmups

Shades of Randy Johnson here.

Throwing a baseball is pretty routine for MLB pitchers at this point. Hitting a bird, however, is not!

On Wednesday, before the Arizona Diamondbacks afternoon tilt against the Oakland Athletics, tragedy struck Oakland Coliseum. During Zac Gallen’s warmup before the game, the pitcher accidentally hit a bird flying past with his curveball.

Invoking shades of Randy Johnson hitting a bird with a pitch during a spring training game back in 2001, Gallen’s pitch unfortunately killed the bird mid-flight. Not only that, Bally Sports Arizona’s cameras caught the incident as it happened.

WARNING: The video below may be difficult to watch, given the subject matter.

Rest in peace, little bird.

Zac Gallen is now the favorite to win the NL Cy Young

Former UNC baseball and current Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Zac Gallen is the favorite to win the NL Cy Young.

Former North Carolina pitcher Zac Gallen is off to a great start for the Arizona Diamondbacks here in 2023. And in mid-May, Gallen is establishing himself as one of the best pitchers in all of baseball.

Gallen is now the odds-on favorite to win the NL Cy Young award here in May at +190. That beats out Atlanta’s Spencer Strider (+240) who was the favorite going into the year.

After that, it’s a long list of players with odds at +1000 or greater including Clayton Kershaw, Julio Urias, Mitch Keller, Zack Wheeler and Justin Steele.

Gallen is 6-1 on the year with a 2.35 ERA in 9 games started this season and 57.1 innings pitched. He’s helped the Diamondbacks get off to a 24-18 start in the NL West behind only the Los Angeles Dodgers. If Gallen can continue his hot streak, he should continue to be the favorite to win the NL Cy Young which would be the fist of his career.

The odds for the NL Cy Young award were provided by BetMGM.

[gambcom-standard rankid=”3011″ ]

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.