Arizona Diamondbacks: Predicting the 2020 rotation

No. 5 Zac Gallen 

2019 Stats: 3-6 with a 2.81 ERA, 96 strikeouts and a 1.225 WHIP

Now Zac Gallen only started 15 games, which could mean a lot of others may exclude him from the Arizona Diamondbacks opening day rotation, but what he showed towards the end of 2019, definitely earned him a spot in the rotation.

Gallen came over in a trade with the Miami Marlins in which the D-backs gave up their No. 1 prospect in Jazz Chisholm.  Gallen to this point has been completely worth it, although Chisholm isn’t at the big league level yet, so the jury is still out.

I can’t see any scenario in which he is left out of the rotation unless the D-backs decide to continue the Mike Leake experience.  I really hope that is not the case as he was awful when he came over and it’s time to get these young guys who are the future of the franchise playing time.

No. 4 Luke Weaver

2019 Stats: 4-3 with a 2.94 ERA, 69 strikeouts and a 1.073 WHIP

This spot could easily be Alex Young‘s, again with Weaver’s limited starts this past season, only 12, but Weaver was phenomenal.  I think Young still needs some development.  The D-backs also did this to themselves when they signed their free-agent pitcher this season.

They already had a log-jam at starting pitcher and now at least one young pitcher and one veteran will be on the outside looking in at this rotation.  Weaver came from the St. Louis Cardinals in the Paul Goldschmidt trade and will continue to develop nicely for the team.