Honestly, if you looked at the Arizona Diamondbacks pitching rotation toward the end of last season, you probably saw a bit of a mess. It was a 80-82 year that felt longer than it actually was. But here we are in 2026, and the vibe around Chase Field is... different.
The biggest shocker isn't even a new signing. It's who isn't there. Zac Gallen, the "Milkman" himself, declined his qualifying offer and hit the open market. Seeing a D-backs rotation without Gallen feels kinda like eating a sonoran hot dog without the bun. It’s just wrong. But Mike Hazen didn't just sit on his hands. He went out and brought back a familiar face, and honestly, it’s the move that might save their season.
The Return of the Local Hero
Merrill Kelly is back.
After that weird deadline trade to the Rangers last year, most fans thought the Kelly era in Arizona was cooked. Nope. He signed a two-year, $40 million deal in December to come home. He’s 37 now, but the dude just keeps throwing strikes. Last year he put up a 3.52 ERA over 184 innings. In a world where starters usually gas out after five innings, Kelly is basically a prehistoric creature who still believes in the "workhorse" mentality.
He’s the anchor now. Without him, this whole thing would be resting on some very shaky, very young shoulders.
Ryne Nelson and the Breakout That Actually Happened
If you're looking for a reason to be genuinely hyped, it’s Ryne Nelson. People have been waiting for him to "arrive" for like three years. Well, he’s here.
He finished 2025 with a 3.39 ERA and a WHIP barely over 1.00. That’s not just "good for a young guy"—that’s borderline elite. He’s finally figured out how to use that high-velocity heater to set up the secondary stuff instead of just trying to blow it past everyone. He actually led the team in WAR for pitchers last year, which is wild when you consider he was fighting for a rotation spot in spring training.
The Brandon Pfaadt Paradox
We need to talk about Brandon Pfaadt. He is the most frustrating pitcher to watch if you only look at the box score.
A 5.25 ERA looks terrible. Like, "get this guy out of the league" terrible. But then you look at his peripheral numbers. His FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching) was 4.22. He struck out 147 guys in 176 innings and didn't walk anybody—less than two walks per nine innings.
Basically, he’s pitching great, but everything that can go wrong behind him does go wrong. Bloop hits, weird errors, you name it. If the luck turns even a little bit in 2026, he’s a sub-4.00 ERA guy easily. The D-backs know this; that’s why they locked him up through 2030. They aren't worried about the 5.25. You shouldn't be either.
The Rest of the Bunch
The back end is where things get a little "choose your own adventure."
✨ Don't miss: Top ppr fantasy players 2025: What Most People Get Wrong
Eduardo Rodriguez is the X-factor. He had a nightmare of a season last year with a changeup that forgot how to move. If that pitch comes back, he’s a solid number three. If it doesn't? He’s a "Toby"—the kind of pitcher who just exists to eat innings while you pray the offense scores seven runs.
Then there’s the new guy: Michael Soroka.
It’s a classic Mike Hazen "buy low" move. Soroka was once the next big thing in Atlanta before his Achilles decided to quit on him twice. He’s healthy now, and Arizona is banking on him reclaiming even 80% of his old form. If he does, he’s the steal of the offseason. If he doesn’t, he’s a long reliever by June.
Dealing with the Injury Bug
The Diamondbacks pitching rotation would look a lot scarier if the training room wasn't so crowded. Corbin Burnes? Tommy John. Out until mid-2026 at the earliest. Jordan Montgomery? Also gone, traded to Milwaukee while he was on the IL.
And don't even get me started on the bullpen. Justin Martinez and A.J. Puk are both recovering from elbow surgeries. The team is basically starting the season with half their arms in bubble wrap.
This means the young guys—Cristian Mena and Yilber Diaz—are going to see a lot of innings early. Mena has a nasty slider, but he’s coming off a shoulder strain. It’s a lot of "ifs."
Actionable Insights for the 2026 Season
If you're following this team or playing fantasy ball, here is how you should actually view this group:
- Buy the Pfaadt Dip: Don't let that 5.25 ERA scare you. His underlying metrics suggest he’s a top-tier mid-rotation starter. He’s going to have a "bounce back" year that isn't actually a bounce back—it’s just his luck finally evening out.
- Watch the Ryne Nelson Velocity: If he’s sitting 95-97 in April, he’s a legit Cy Young dark horse. He finally has the confidence that was missing in 2024.
- Expect a Bullpen Mess: Until Martinez and Puk return in the summer, the late innings will be a heart-attack-inducing committee of Kevin Ginkel and whoever is hot that week.
- The Soroka Watch: Give him three starts. If he isn't generating whiffs on his sinker by start four, the comeback story might be a short one.
The 2026 Arizona Diamondbacks pitching rotation isn't the most talented group on paper, especially without Gallen. But it’s a group that’s deeper than people realize. If Kelly stays healthy and Nelson continues his ascent, they won't just be "competitive"—they'll be a problem for the rest of the NL West.