His track record helps overcome concerns.
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Earlier in the week, we asked which member of the D-backs’ rotation did you consider our #2 starter, behind Merrill Kelly? In terms of numbers, after the loss of Corbin Burnes for the reason, there’s a huge drop-off after Kelly. Going into last night’s game, his ERA+ of 129 was thirty-nine points better than anyone else currently in the D-backs rotation. Ryne Nelson was next best at 90, followed relatively closely by Zac Gallen (80), Brandon Pfaadt (75) and Eduardo Rodriguez (66). But all the other four had pros and cons, in terms of experience, peripherals, age and recent form. Hence the question: who is Arizona’s #2 starter?
Here are the results:
It’s interesting to see Gallen top the chart, not least because a month ago, we asked you which pitcher you were most concerned about. And Zac came top in that poll as well! However, considering Gallen was the team’s Opening Day starter, now being thought of as the #2 – and that by less than half of fans – has to be regarded as a step back for Zac. As has been well-discussed, he’s almost certainly going to become a free-agent at the end of this year. How he performs in 2025 will have a great impact on his next contract. The current line of a 4-8 record and 5.15 ERA, with a FIP hardly much lower at 4.89, is not going to command ace money this winter.
After Gallen, our two young starters, Pfaadt and Nelson, almost evenly split the bulk of the remaining votes. Both have shown flashes of brilliance so far this season, but haven’t been able to put things together consistently. Though in Ryne’s case at least, it’s partly a result of him having bounced back and forth between the Arizona bullpen and its rotation. With the potential departures of both Gallen and Kelly next off-season, they have the chance for the rest of the season to nail down rotation spots for next year and beyond. Though I am still trying to figure out what our 2025 Opening Day rotation will look like, given Burnes may not be back before the All-Star break. I’d not mind a Kelly extension, frankly.
Finally, nobody is convinced by Rodriguez having a couple of decent starts since coming back from the All-Star break. With Burnes and Jordan Montgomery both rehabbing from TJ, that leaves E-Rod as easily the highest-paid player on the active roster. His $20 million is five million dollars more than Eugenio Suarez, with Ketel Marte and Lourdes Gurriel coming in a further million bucks back. With Rodriguez signed at least through the end of 2027 (and an expensive buy-out, at $6m, for the 2028 season), we need him to be at least competent. Otherwise, that contract is going to be a massive anchor on the team’s ability to compete through the next few campaigns.