D-backs to shut down Luke Weaver, Zac Gallen for 2019

Sep 25, 2019, 12:34 PM | Updated: 1:15 pm

Luke Weaver (left). (AP Photo/Matt York). Zac Gallen (right). (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Arizona Sports

PHOENIX — Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo announced Wednesday that the team will shut down starting pitchers Luke Weaver and Zac Gallen for the rest of 2019.

Only four games remain in the team’s regular season and they have already been eliminated from the postseason. Lovullo made it clear that both pitchers are healthy despite them being shut down.

Gallen, 24, is in his first major league season. He threw exactly 80 innings this season in the major leagues in addition to 91.1 in Triple-A for Miami’s farm team (he came to the D-backs in a trade deadline deal this summer). For Gallen, 171.1 innings is a professional career-high.

“We had crossed the threshold several weeks ago with our comfort level [for innings pitched],” Lovullo said. “But we were in the race. He was throwing the ball as good as he ever had. He was feeling very good. So we were going to press on, but pay close attention to that.”

Weaver, meanwhile, spent much of the season on the injured list with muscular injuries in his pitching arm. On Saturday, he pitched for the first time since May 26 and went just two innings, allowing no hits or walks and striking out one on only 19 pitches.

“This is a healthy shutdown,” Lovullo said. “Luke has worked extremely hard to get himself back to this point right now, and he had thrown a couple games — one in [Single-A] Visalia and one here. Checked a lot of boxes. And this was a collective decision. We got information from Luke and we just decided we wanted him to begin his rest protocol as soon as possible.”

Gallen finishes the year with a 2.81 ERA.

Weaver had a 2.94 ERA over 12 starts in his first season with Arizona after coming over from St. Louis in the Paul Goldschmidt trade.

WHAT ABOUT WALKER?

Starting pitcher Taijuan Walker, who hasn’t pitched since April of 2018 due to Tommy John surgery, will throw a bullpen session on Thursday. They’ll see how he feels after that, but the idea is try to get him in a game before season’s end.

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Arizona Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas celebrates his walk off base hit against the St. Louis Cardinals as teammates run out of the dugout during the 19th inning, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019, in Phoenix. The Diamondbacks won 3-2. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas is lifted by teammates as they celebrates his walk off base hit against the St. Louis Cardinals, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019, in Phoenix. The Diamondbacks won 3-2 in 19 innings. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Carson Kelly (18) scores the winning run on a walk off base hit by teammate Ildemaro Vargas during the 19th inning as St. Louis Cardinals' catcher Yadier Molina walks to his dugout, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019, in Phoenix. The Diamondbacks won 3-2. (AP Photo/Matt York)

St. Louis Cardinals' Paul Goldschmidt (46) is greeted by teammates in the dugout after hitting a solo home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the 13th inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

St. Louis Cardinals' Paul Goldschmidt rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the 13th inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

St. Louis Cardinals' Paul Goldschmidt connects on a solo home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the 13th inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas follows through on a solo home run against the St. Louis Cardinals during the ninth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run as St. Louis Cardinals' Paul DeJong (12) looks on during the ninth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Eduardo Escobar follows through on a base hit against the St. Louis Cardinals during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

St. Louis Cardinals' Paul Goldschmidt watches the ball go foul against the Arizona Diamondbacks' during the third inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

St. Louis Cardinals' Paul Goldschmidt hits against the Arizona Diamondbacks' during the third inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Mike Leake throws against the St. Louis Cardinals during the first inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

St. Louis Cardinals' Dexter Fowler celebrates his solo home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks' during the first inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Mike Leake adjusts his cap after giving up a home run against the St. Louis Cardinals during the first inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

St. Louis Cardinals' starting pitcher Jack Flaherty throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the first inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

St. Louis Cardinals' Dexter Fowler watches his solo home run take flight against the Arizona Diamondbacks' during the first inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

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