PHOENIX — For manager Torey Lovullo, Zac Gallen’s six shutout innings in Wednesday’s 2-0 win over the Texas Rangers were typical from his ace.
For much of this season, that had not been the case. Since the trade deadline, however, Gallen has lived up to his reputation.
Gallen has allowed one run over his last 19 innings pitched.
He did not let a runner reach third base after the first inning on Wednesday, shutting out the Rangers with four hits allowed, one walk and five strikeouts, four of which were looking.
Zac Gallen, Painted 88mph Slider. 🖌️🎨 pic.twitter.com/aP6nUTFhe7
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) September 3, 2025
Oddly, he drew two whiffs on 35 swings, instead inducing 10 ground-ball outs and consistent weak contact.
In seven outings since no postseason contender offered the Diamondbacks a package worth taking for a struggling Gallen, the right-hander has delivered a 2.20 ERA and six quality starts. Arizona is 5-2 in that stretch.
“It’s hard to pinpoint one specific thing,” pitching coach Brian Kaplan told Arizona Sports. “It just feels like this slow momentum that’s built since probably July.
“I think addition of the sinker has helped to give another option to righties, the feel for the slider has gotten more consistent. The fastball shape I think is probably the big piece. That’s something he’s been looking for and feels like he locked into the type of four-seam shape he likes, which makes him more confident to attack the zone.”
Gallen went into August with a 5.60 ERA, which contributed to the Diamondbacks failing to get on the run they had been looking for. That number has since fallen to 4.77.
He has limited the home runs and walks to three and 10, respectively, in these past seven games, attacking and executing in the strike zone more effectively.
Over the last 30 days, Gallen’s 2.06 ERA ranks fourth in Major League Baseball, leading All-Stars Paul Skenes, Tarik Skubal and Carlos Rodon.
Confidence, Gallen said, has never been the issue. But he had been frustrated by starts that were going well through four, five innings and then fell apart late. He has a 5.49 ERA in the sixth inning and a 13.50 ERA in the seventh.
Lately, he has finished his outings much cleaner, including on Wednesday when he overcame an error from shortstop Geraldo Perdomo and recorded the final two outs without drama. He finished with 97 pitches, turning the game over to the bullpen which completed Arizona’s ninth shutout win of the year.
“ Inner confidence is something I don’t necessarily lack,” Gallen said.
“I know this game is a hard game, and I feel the longer you play, it gets a little bit harder, especially from a pitcher standpoint. … When you first come up there’s this new, we’re not really sure what he’s throwing, how’s he gonna attack. For me, taking a step back, doing a self audit, understanding what’s been working, what hadn’t been working … it’s just been the key to success right now.”
Gallen is always making tweaks to find what feels right. Kaplan mentioned that he has started throwing a bit less between starts, trying to limit volume while working on his adjustments.
“I think that’s helped him feel a lot stronger at the end of each outing, in my personal opinion,” Kaplan said.
Gallen knows he’s in sync with his delivery when his fastball feels as sharp as it has during this stretch.
When his fastball command and shape are right, it opens the rest of his arsenal. Gallen threw six different pitches on Wednesday. He felt his command was better when he threw six shutout innings in Los Angeles last weekend, but it was “serviceable” on Wednesday.
Diamondbacks win a series
The Diamondbacks needed only three hits to secure the victory, none of which came after the second inning.
Arizona scored in the first on a Gabriel Moreno RBI-single after Ketel Marte had been thrown out at home on the previous play. A Jake McCarthy bouncer that skipped past first baseman Jake Burger in the second inning plated the second run.
That was all the run support Gallen received, as Texas starter Jack Leiter threw six innings of two-run ball with eight strikeouts.
Ryan Thompson, John Curtiss, Andrew Saalfrank and Jake Woodford kept the shutout going in relief, with Woodford picking up the save (his third this season).
The Diamondbacks (70-71) have won four of their last five series with a four-game split in Milwaukee mixed in there.
Up next for Diamondbacks
The Diamondbacks get Thursday off before starting a three-game series on Friday against the visiting Boston Red Sox. The 78-62 Red Sox are currently in an American League Wild Card spot and battling for the AL East crown.
Eduardo Rodriguez, Brandon Pfaadt and Ryne Nelson, in order, are the probable arms for Arizona. Boston will roll out rookie left-hander Payton Tolle on Friday, followed by veteran right-hander Lucas Giolito on Saturday and righty Brayan Bello on Sunday.
Catch Friday’s game on 98.7 and the Arizona Sports app at 6:40 p.m. MST.
