(Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
The Arizona Diamondbacks have been a fun and surprising team to watch so far in 2023.
Despite some key offseason additions, few were expecting them to emerge as a postseason contender.
Lo and behold, Arizona currently leads the National League West division.
The Diamondbacks are up by a half-game over the underachieving Los Angeles Dodgers.
At the center of their success has been their ace right-handed pitcher, Zac Gallen.
Gallen got the start on Wednesday night against the Kansas City Royals and spun yet another gem.
He allowed just four hits over 6.1 innings and struck out 12 without allowing a walk.
That extended his elite run of consecutive scoreless innings.
On Twitter, Bob Nightengale of USA Today pointed out just how dominant the right-hander has been.
Make it 28 consecutive scoreless innings https://t.co/yqQE52jv1e
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) April 26, 2023
With the out he recorded in the top of the seventh, Gallen extended that scoreless streak to 28 straight innings.
Gallen was acquired by the D-Backs in 2019 at the trade deadline and quickly became their ace.
The win on Wednesday improved his record to 4-1 on the year across six starts.
He also lowered his ERA to a sparking 2.15 mark.
Gallen has struck out a total of 51 batters and has a WHIP of 0.77 over 37.2 innings of work.
And on Wednesday, he continued that dominance against a struggling Royals squad that owns the second-worst record in the American League.
Arizona improved to 14-12 and leapfrogged the Dodgers to reclaim sole possession of first place in the NL West.
Gallen is once again proving to be one of baseball’s best pitchers as he makes his case for the NL Cy Young Award.
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