Zac Gallen will start for the Arizona Diamondbacks next Thursday for Opening Day against the Los Angeles Dodgers, the D-backs announced Friday on Twitter.
It’s the first such honor for Gallen and ends Madison Bumgarner’s three-year streak of beginning the year as the first D-back on the mound.
He earned his first starts deeper into the season the past two years due to a hairline fracture (2021), plus shoulder and thumb injuries (2022).
It’s well-earned.
Gallen, who is 27 years old, finished fifth in National League Cy Young voting for 2022.
The D-backs righty led the National League in WHIP last season at 0.91 and finished seventh in ERA among starters with a 2.54 clip.
He went 12-4 last season and struck out 192 batters to 47 walks.
Gallen set a franchise record with 44.1 scoreless innings during a stretch spanning early August through mid-September.
Los Angeles named Julio Urias as its Opening Day starter for the game at Dodger Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. MST Thursday.