D-backs beat Padres 5-1 on June 14, but lose ace Corbin Burnes for the season to Tommy John surgery. How will Zac Gallen and the team cope with this loss?
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a day of conflicting emotions at Chase Field. On the one hand, a commanding 5-1 victory over the division-rival San Diego Padres. On the other, the gut-wrenching news that ace Corbin Burnes, the cornerstone of the rotation, is done for the year. The win pushes the Diamondbacks back above .500, but the loss of Burnes casts a long, dark shadow over the rest of the 2025 season.
It's a significant blow to our rotation and our team. There's no way to sugarcoat it.
The news every fan dreads arrived before the first pitch. Manager Torey Lovullo confirmed that Corbin Burnes will undergo Tommy John surgery next week, ending his 2025 campaign. This is a crushing development for a team with postseason aspirations. Burnes has been the anchor of the pitching staff, and his absence creates a massive void. The recovery timeline for this procedure typically extends over a year, meaning the D-backs will have to navigate the rest of this season and likely part of the next without their top arm. The pressure now squarely falls on the shoulders of Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly to lead a suddenly thinner rotation.
With the somber news hanging in the air, Zac Gallen delivered exactly the kind of performance the team needed. He was masterful against the Padres, going seven strong innings while allowing just one run and striking out eight. Gallen improved his record to 5-8, but more importantly, he provided a stabilizing presence. The offense backed him up decisively. Corbin Carroll, looking more and more like his old self, went 2-for-4 and launched a solo homer. Josh Naylor broke the game open with a powerful two-run shot, providing the bulk of the run support. The 5-1 final was a testament to the team's ability to focus, but the question remains if they can sustain this without their ace.
In other news, the bullpen carousel continues as the team recalled righty Kevin Ginkel from Triple-A Reno to add a fresh arm. He takes the spot of Christian Montes De Oca, who landed on the 15-day IL. In a small piece of welcome good news, the D-backs dodged another injury bullet. Catcher Gabriel Moreno, who left a recent game after being hit by a pitch on the hand, had negative X-rays. He's considered day-to-day and is expected to avoid the IL, a huge relief for a team that can ill-afford another key injury.
Tonight's win keeps the Diamondbacks in the hunt, but the road ahead just got exponentially harder. The loss of Corbin Burnes is a season-altering event. Moving forward, every start from Gallen and Kelly becomes must-watch TV, and the offense will need to consistently deliver performances like today's. This team's resilience is about to be tested like never before as they fight to keep their playoff dreams alive in the face of adversity.
