Opening Day is just around the corner, with less than 10 days before the 2025 season starts. Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo has yet to name a starter for the first game of the season, although the choice is down to Zac Gallen and Corbin Burnes.
Torey Lovullo on Opening Day starter:
— Alex Weiner (@alexjweiner) March 17, 2025
"I'm probably going to take tomorrow (off day) and think about it as thoroughly as possible and then start to shift gears and let it be known internally what my thought is."
Reacting to what Lovullo said before Thursday's split-squad game against the Los Angeles Angels, Burns & Gambo co-host John Gambadoro made the case for why Gallen should be the Opening Day starter.
"My reasoning is he's a long-tenured Diamondback. He's got cache, he's been here. If Gallen isn't here next year, if he signs somewhere else, Corbin Burnes is my Opening Day starter. Corbin Burnes has only been here a couple months, Gallen's been here for many years. I think he's earned the right to take it on Opening Day."
Who should be the Diamondbacks' Opening Day starter? Zac Gallen or Corbin Burnes?@Gambo987 gives his thoughts on who it should be. @BurnsAndGambo pic.twitter.com/7evJ41nsmp
— Arizona Sports (@AZSports) March 17, 2025
Arizona Sports published that part of the show on X, with many of the replies opting for Burnes over Gallen.
It wouldn't be too much of a risk to go with Gallen for the third straight season. By making him the Opening Day starter, he would become the sixth Diamondback pitcher to start three Opening Days, last done so by Madison Bumgarner (2020-2022). He was instrumental in the team's postseason run to the World Series in 2023 and in his seventh season with the team.
On the flip side, most teams will pick their best starter for Opening Day. For the Diamondbacks, their best starter is Corbin Burnes. They signed him to a franchise-record $210 million contract, making him the highest-paid pitcher on the team. By doing so, he is their No. 1 starter and it would make sense to match him against the opponent's No. 1.
It will be interesting to see what comes of that decision Lovullo makes over the next coming days. The Diamondbacks will host the Chicago Cubs on March 27 at Chase Field for Opening Day.