Zac Gallen

For the first time in his career, Gallen avoided the injury bug, logging 31 starts and 184 innings. He recorded a career best 20.3% K-BB% mark, mostly due to a personal best 6.6% walk rate. Gallen's ratios benefited from a .237 BABIP as well as a 9.1% HR/FB mark. However, even if his 2.54 ERA was achieved with a boost from Lady Luck, Gallen's 3.05 FIP, 3.32 xFIP and 3.32 SIERA are all still excellent, softening the landing when the regression monster rears its ugly head. Gallen's pitch mix didn't change, but he threw his four-seam fastball, slider and curveball a little harder, increasing effectiveness so strikeouts should tick up with continued health. Gallen isn't off the injury concern hook but coming off a healthy season merits fantasy anchor consideration. There is a stigma about drafting pitchers from second-division teams, but the Diamondbacks offense is on the upswing, so wins are on the table.

Gallen endured an injury-riddled first half, beginning with a hairline fracture in his right arm initially thought to be more serious, followed by a sprained right elbow and hamstring strain. He headed into the break with only nine starts. Gallen gathered 14 in the second half, registering a 4.37 ERA and 1.24 WHIP with 90 punch outs in 80.1 innings, but he also walked 18 and surrendered 14 homers in that span. Eight of the homers came on a slider or changeup. Together, he threw those secondary offerings only one-third of the time, so the home run surplus seems more fluky than worrisome. Gallen is still just 26-years-old, so there's plenty of time to regain near-ace status. Last season's injuries provide pause, and his availability for Opening Day is in question due to some offseason shoulder issues. Gallen isn't expected to miss much time if any, but it remains a concern coming off the 2021 injuries If helium floated Gallen out of your range the past couple of seasons, the price is right to get back in, assuming he's healthy.

The Marlins have a good corps of starters, but it looks like they may have let an ace get away when they traded Gallen to Arizona at the 2019 trade deadline. Gallen has been one of the most effective starting pitchers in the game since he broke into the majors that season. A third-round pick in 2016, Gallen has faced 625 batters in the big leagues and pitched to a 2.78 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 178:61 K:BB. He has a balanced pitch mix, utilizing his four-seamer, cutter, curveball and changeup all at least 16% of the time. His cutter has good horizontal break, his changeup has good downward movement and he can command the ball well in and around the zone. The ERA estimators suggest some performance giveback is imminent and it is best to count on some, though Gallen has routinely outperformed his estimators in pro ball. Remember Chase Field has become a pitchers' park since the humidor was installed.

Gallen impressed in his first glimpse of major-league action with the Marlins last season and was surprisingly traded to the Diamondbacks at the end of July. While the deal means that Gallen is now pitching in the stronger NL West, he also has a more productive offense powering him and a much better defense behind him. Although the right-hander only throws his fastball 92.9 mph on average, he has three strong secondary pitches and plus command. The 24-year-old posted a career-high 171.1 innings between the majors and minors last year before being shut down at the end of September, so workload should not be a major concern for 2020. Gallen may not overpower hitters with his velocity, but he can rack up strikeouts and the ingredients are there for him to take a leap. The hype train has already left the station, however, so know you're going to have to pay full freight if you want to go along for the ride.