Former North Carolina Tar Heels’ ace Zac Gallen has helped lead the Arizona Diamondbacks to the World Series for the first time since 2001. And now, he will get the ball to get the series started in Game 1.
On Wednesday, a day after the Diamondbacks beat the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 7 of the NLCS, manager Torey Lovullo announced that Gallen will get the ball to pitch in Game 1 on Friday night.
Gallen earned the nod in the Diamondbacks Game 1 game against the Phillies in the NLCS, losing that game on the road. He will oppose Texas starter Nathan Eovaldi in Arlington.
The Arizona Diamondbacks announce that Zac Gallen will indeed go Game 1 in the World Series
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) October 25, 2023
In the playoffs, Gallen is 2-2 with a 5.24 ERA in two games started. Both losses game in the NLCS to the Phillies as he lost Game 1 on the road and then Game 5 at home. He also posted a 7.86 ERA in the NLC compared to a 3.00 ERA and a 3.38 ERA in the Wild Card and NLDS series.
First pitch is set for 8:03 p.m. on Friday night as the World Series will officially begin.
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