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Arizona’s Kelly, Gallen Collapse After $95 M Pitching Spend

6/6/2026

33 5 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

$95 million investment in starters Merrill Kelly and Zac Gallen has failed to stabilize the rotation.
Kelly allowed seven runs in five innings as team lost 14-1 to Washington on June 5, 2026 at Chase Field.
Gallen gave up nine runs on five hits, lifting his ERA to 5.32, up from 4.83 last year.
Pitching coach Brian Kaplan must fix the rotation as the team nears the August 3 trade deadline with depth.

History

Historical Context

The 1994–95 MLB strike ended the season on August 11, 1994 and cancelled the World Series, exposing that more than 260 players were set to earn over $1 million that year. Owners responded by tightening payrolls, and MLB avoided another salary-cap experiment until 2026, when the Diamondbacks’ heavy investment in starting pitchers reignited concerns about overspending.

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Story summary

$95 million investment in starters Merrill Kelly and Zac Gallen has failed to stabilize the rotation.
Kelly allowed seven runs in five innings as team lost 14-1 to Washington on June 5, 2026 at Chase Field.
Gallen gave up nine runs on five hits, lifting his ERA to 5.32, up from 4.83 last year.
Pitching coach Brian Kaplan must fix the rotation as the team nears the August 3 trade deadline with depth.

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