D-backs place SP Zac Gallen on 10-day IL with sprained right elbow

The Arizona Diamondbacks placed starting pitcher Zac Gallen and first baseman Christian Walker on the 10-day injured list Wednesday.

Gallen, who is dealing with a sprained right elbow, was a surprise addition to the list. He was expected to start Wednesday night against the Miami Marlins. In his place will be Matt Peacock, who will make his first career MLB start.

Torey Lovullo said pregame that Gallen strained part of his UCL, and will be reassessed in a couple weeks.

“These are challenging times,” Lovullo said. “It’s stuff we talk about, stuff we budget for and what I’ll say is, every team walks through very challenging situations. It’s how we respond to those situations that’s going to separate us.”

Gallen missed time at the beginning of the season as well after suffering a hairline stress fracture in his right arm during spring training. Lovullo said Gallen’s recent injury has zero relation to the last one.

The right-hander is 1-1 this season with a 3.04 ERA over five starts (26.2 innings pitched). He’s tied for second on the team with two quality starts and has struck out 32 batters (third among D-backs pitchers).

As for Walker, Lovullo said the right oblique strain is in the same area, but not the same spot as the one that landed him on the IL in mid-April.

“As I explained to him last night after the game, it just made more sense to me to flush this out. … I just felt like it was the best thing for him to get out in front of this so we don’t have to deal with it the rest of the year,” the manager said.

In 17 games this season, the first baseman has recorded 13 hits, five RBIs and six walks. He’s struck out 17 times. He’s averaging .203 and slugging .313.

Lovullo is keeping a positive spin on things as the team is plagued by injuries and losing its starters. Gallen and Walker join Ketel Marte, Taylor Widener, Taylor Clippard and Kole Calhoun on the IL.

“We’re going to miss Zac, there’s no doubt about it. We’re going to miss Christian, there’s no doubt about it, but it’s going to be an opportunity for new guys to step in, and we’ve been watching that,” Lovullo said.

“We’ve been watching several players right now step into different roles and have very successful seasons and that’s going to continue and it’s going to make us that much stronger.”

In corresponding moves, the D-backs recalled utility man Andrew Young and selected righty Seth Frankoff from Triple-A Reno.

Additionally, the D-backs designated Wyatt Mathisen for assignment.

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