Diamondbacks' Zac Gallen has been one of the weak links

Diamondbacks' Zac Gallen has been one of the weak links originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Zac Gallen has not pitched well this season. In nine starts, Gallen is 1-4 with a 5.65 ERA and has struck out 29 (walked 14).

This is Gallen's second year, where he has not been the All-Star (2023) and a top-five Cy Young contender (2022 and 2023) that he's shown he can be. In 33 starts last season, Gallen had a 13-15 record with a 4.83 ERA (career-high), which cost him the long-term contract he was seeking in the offseason.

Gallen returned to the Diamondbacks on a one-year ($22.025 million) contract due to his performance last season. Looking like the same pitcher that he was last season, Gallen could be costing himself money and security for this offseason if he doesn't turn things around.

Arizona Diamondbacks Zac Gallen needs to "break out" to earn a decent deal in the offseason

According to Bleacher Report's Kerry Miller, Gallen's poor performance is why he was listed as someone who needs to start to "break out."

"It sure would be swell for the Diamondbacks if this impending free-agent starting pitcher could get his ERA down below 5.00," wrote Miller. "If Gallen did turn things around, maybe it would anchor a comeback from what is currently a sub-.500 mark. But if it didn't, at least they would be able to get something decent in return if they put him on the trade block. In his current state, fresh off a 7 ER dud in , that might not be the case."