D-backs’ starting pitcher Zac Gallen nominated to All-MLB Team

Zac Gallen’s strong second season as a major league pitcher netted him a spot on the All-MLB Team voting list.

Gallen, who was acquired by the Arizona Diamondbacks via a trade with the Miami Marlins at the trade deadline in 2019, finished the year with a 3-2 record, to go with a 2.75 ERA and a 2.7 WAR.

He is one of 20 starting pitchers on the All-MLB Team preliminary list. Of those, 10 will be selected for the final team next month, divided by first and second team selections.

With his record-breaking year, @zacgallen23 is our nominee for the 2020 All-MLB Team. 👏

You can vote him in until November 13: https://t.co/TS1EGLhZJN pic.twitter.com/l1aClNpX3v

— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) October 29, 2020

Gallen’s sophomore season saw him break the MLB record for most consecutive starts allowing three or fewer earned runs to begin a career with 23, topping the previous mark of 21 set by Red Sox pitcher Aaron Sele in 1993-94.

The University of North Carolina alum was the lone D-back to make the list.

Gallen finished the coronavirus-shortened 2020 regular season with the seventh-highest WAR of any NL player, according to Baseball Reference.

His 2.7 WAR was also good for fifth-best in the senior circuit amongst pitchers. Gallen also finished in the top-10 in the league in ERA (6th), WHIP (10th), hits per nine innings pitched (6th), strikeouts per nine innings pitched (9th), innings pitched (7th) and strikeouts (10th).

The only other NL West starters that made the preliminary All-MLB Team list were Clayton Kershaw of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Dinelson Lamet of the San Diego Padres.

The All-MLB Team rosters are voted on by fans, with the results announced in early December on the MLB Network. Voting for the teams runs through 2 p.m. Eastern time on Nov. 13.

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