Zac Gallen is a near shoo-in to be named to the National League All-Star team on Sunday, but that isn’t the most important part of his day.
Tops on the list for the Arizona right-hander is pitching well against the Los Angeles Angels when the Diamondbacks attempt to finish a three-game road sweep at Anaheim, Calif.
The Diamondbacks prevailed 6-2 and 3-1 in the first two games of the series, and Gallen (10-2, 3.02 ERA) is focused on helping notch the club’s 51st win of the season. Arizona became the second NL team to reach 50 wins on Saturday.
After the outing, Gallen will be interested to learn whether he’s headed to the All-Star Game for the first time in his career.
“My biggest thing is being ready to pitch and help us win as we’re getting into the second half of the season,” Gallen told reporters prior to Saturday’s contest. “That’s what I’m most concerned about. But at the same time it would be an honor to be able to pitch in the (All-Star) Game. We’re just going to have to wait and see what makes the most sense.”
Gallen finished fifth in NL Cy Young Award balloting last season and has continued his mastery this season.
The 27-year-old is tied for the NL lead in victories and has struck out 108 in 104 1/3 innings. He has won his past three starts.
Gallen defeated the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday when he gave up four runs and five hits over six innings.
Gallen has yet to face the Angels. Hunter Renfroe (1-for-9) and Mike Moustakas (1-for-6) are among the Los Angeles players who have struggled against Gallen while on other teams.
Arizona All-Star outfielder Corbin Carroll (shoulder injury) took batting practice Saturday but missed his second straight game. It remains uncertain whether he will play in the finale.
“The swings that I saw him take — not having a lot of conversation with him — were good,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. “He was testing it, and everything felt as good as it possibly could.”
Without its best player, Arizona got solid contributions from Gabriel Moreno and Emmanuel Rivera on Saturday. Moreno reached base four times on three hits and a hit-by-pitch, and Rivera reached three times on two hits and a walk.
The Angels, though, have been largely silent over the first two games of the series. Los Angeles has three runs and seven hits and is hitless with eight runners in scoring position.
Saturday’s lone run came on Anthony Rendon’s second homer of the season. On Friday, Shohei Ohtani hit his 30th of the year, also a solo shot, with the club’s other run scoring on Rendon’s double-play grounder.
In Saturday’s loss, Mike Trout (three strikeouts) and Ohtani (two) were hitless in seven at-bats.
“We’re facing some really good arms, and it doesn’t get any easier,” Angels manager Phil Nevin said. “We just got to be better.”
Brandon Drury (shoulder) of the Angels missed the first two games and will sit out Sunday. Nevin said Drury could be placed on the injured list.
Left-hander Reid Detmers (1-5, 3.77 ERA) will be on the mound for Los Angeles. He has pitched superbly over his last four starts, going 1-0 with a 1.05 ERA. He has allowed three runs and 12 hits in 25 2/3 innings during the span.
Detmers received his third straight no-decision when he allowed one run and two hits over seven innings against the Chicago White Sox on Monday. He struck out 10 and walked two.
Detmers, who will turn 24 on Saturday, has never faced the Diamondbacks. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. is 1-for-2 with a walk against Detmers.
–Field Level Media
