Zac Gallen Headlines D-Backs Sunday Split Squad Schedule

With two games broadcast Sunday there will be plenty of D-backs action to take in.

The Diamondbacks play two spring training games Sunday in split squad action. Game 1 is at Salt River Fields against the Los Angeles Angels. Game time is 1:10 P.M. and is broadcast on MLB.TV with Steve Berthiaume and Bob Brenly on the call. 

Game 2 is against the Seattle Mariners at Peoria Stadium and also begins at 1:10 P.M. The Mariners Broadcast will be available on MLB.TV as well.  

Game 1 Lineups and Pitching Matchup

Jack Sommers

Gabriel Moreno remains out of the lineup for the D-backs, and Tucker Barnhart is starting behind the plate. Moreno is dealing with lower back tightness per earlier reports. It was mentioned yesterday by Manager Torey Lovullo that Moreno should play today. Be sure to check back in later with Inside the Diamondbacks for further manager updates on Moreno's condition. Geraldo Perdomo is still out of the lineup with a sore knee, and Blaze Alexander is playing shortstop today.  The rest of the D-backs lineup card list the the expected opening day lineup. 

Zac Gallen will be on the mound against the Angels. It will be his third start of the Cactus League in an effort to get stretched out for opening day March 28th. The schedule is very tight with no room for setbacks, as Gallen will only get in one more start after this one prior to opening day. His first start of spring was pushed back to March 7th in an effort to slow play his ramp up and protect him from the heavy workload he endured in 2023 regular and post season. 

So far Gallen has logged just 4.2 innings, giving up four runs on seven hits, three walks and two strikeouts. These results don't matter as he's working on pitches and the sequencing has not been what he'd use during the regular season.  He'll be looking to get at least four "up-downs" and roughly 60 pitches in this game. Then he'd be set up to go five and 75 in his final spring outing, allowing him to potentially go six innings on opening day. 

Miguel Castro and Kevin Ginkel are also scheduled to pitch in this game, along with minor leaguers Phillip Abner and Jake Fitzgibbons. 

Left-hander Patrick Sandoval will pitch for the Angels. The 27-year-old has already pitched in five major league seasons, going 17-37 with a 3.83 ERA and 3.97 FIP across 91 games, 456 innings. The last time he faced the D-backs in the regular season was in 2021, when he threw six innings, giving up just two runs to pick up the victory in a 10-3 game. 

Future Hall of Famer Mike Trout is in the lineup for the Angels. Bedeviled by injuries the last several seasons, he has not been having a strong Spring Training, batting just .207 with one homer and striking out 13 times in 33 PA

Game 2 Lineups and Pitching Matchup

The game in Peoria will feature mostly backups and minor league players. Elvis Andrus will get another rep at shortstop in his effort to make the roster. Most of the other players in the lineup are in backup/bench role battles as well. 

Blake Walston will get the ball to start in this game. He'll be followed at some point by Slade Cecconi. Both pitchers are being stretched out as starters, but seem to have the slimmest of chances to capture the fifth starter's spot. They might be in consideration for a long relief role on the opening day roster perhaps, but most likely will begin the year in Triple-A Reno as rotation depth options. 

Scott McGough and Luis Frías are also scheduled to pitch against the Mariners. McGough is assured a roster post by virtue of his contract that does not allow for him to be optioned. Frías is in his final option year and is competing for one of the last spots in the bullpen. The hard thrower found better control towards the end of last year and if he can continue to harness his stuff could be a power pitcher bullpen option for the D-backs. 

Logan Gilbert will start for the Mariners. He was one of the better starters in the American League last year, going 13-7 with a 3.92 ERA in 32 starts, 190 innings. He's been having a rough spring results-wise however, giving up 10 runs on nine hits, including two homers in 6.1 innings of work.