👋 GOOD MORNING

Happy Tuesday! I hope your week is off to a good start, and in case it’s not, don’t fret — we’re a day closer to Friday! I’ll get to the Diamondbacks’ starting rotation below (and will have much more about them on Thursday for Opening Day), but quick hat tip to the Suns and Roadrunners, who continue to keep their playoff hopes alive. The Suns have caught fire at the right time, having won four straight for the first time since early November, and the Roadrunners are also in the thick of the AHL Playoff race by currently occupying the final Pacific Division playoff spot.

There’s still a lot to keep up with when it comes to sports right here in The Valley, and I sure enjoy bringing you much of it each and every morning.

On to the show!

Rotation Set: Diamondbacks Ready to Roll With Starters

The decision is in.

The Arizona Diamondbacks are heading into Thursday’s Opening Day matchup against the Cubs with some major questions answered. Heading into the exhibition season the D-backs essentially had four of the starting spots locked up, but they also had three additional starters vying for the fifth-and-final spot: Jordan Montgomery, Ryne Nelson and Brandon Pfaadt.

That debate has been settled, at least for now.

Diamondbacks Faced a Tough Decision

What’s your angle? If you’re following the money, then Montgomery would be the man considering he’ll earn $22.5 million this season. That’s an awful lot for a reliever. Nelson, meanwhile, was a force as a starter at the end of the 2024 season, and many believed he had a shot at the No. 5 role. But manager Torey Lovullo recently announced Pfaadt earned the final spot in the rotation to start the season, ending the debate while relegating the Diamondbacks’ second-highest paid player this season to the bullpen. 😬

• Pfaadt joins Corbin Burnes, Zac Gallen, Eduardo Rodriguez and Merrill Kelly in the starting rotation.
• Gallen was named Opening Day starter by Lovullo.
• Pfaadt was 11-10 with 185 strikeouts in 181.2 innings pitched last season.
• He’s 2-0 with a 4.80 ERA and 14 strikeouts in 15 innings of Spring Training ball (four starts).

My take: This is 100 percent the right decision to begin the season. Nelson performed well out of the pen this past weekend, and quick reality check — injuries are going to pop up, so the club’s embarrassment of pitching riches will pay dividends in the future. Montgomery, for his part, didn’t see much action this spring while dealing with a finger injury, and to this point he’s allowed five earned runs in just three innings of work — including one start.

I know he has been disappointing during his tenure with the club to this point, but just remember: Everyone loves a great comeback story, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him turn into a feel-good story as the long, summer days begin to give way to a postseason chase.

Take a deeper dive: Derek takes a look at ​Gallen’s Opening Day nod​.

We Hardly New Ye

Should Sun Devil fans read into the fact that freshman Joson Sanon has entered the transfer portal? He was a five-star recruit out of high school and averaged 12 points per game with the Sun Devils this past season.

Sanon was part of what was supposed to be one of the most dynamic classes in ASU history, which included Jayden Quaintance, as well. Things never quite panned out, though, between injuries and what felt like a lack of team chemistry, especially following the dismissal of B.J. Freeman in late February. Check out the video and hear what Erik and Anthony have to say!

Musings From Around (and Sometimes Beyond) The Valley

It’s Always Sunny: The Suns won their fourth consecutive game, boosting their postseason play-in chances thanks to stellar performances from Kevin Durant (38 points) and Devin Booker, who hit the game-winning jumper with 1.7 seconds to play. The road doesn’t get any easier, though, as Phoenix hosts the 53-19 Celtics on Wednesday in the finale of their five-game home stand.

Flipping Out: Both the ASU and Arizona women’s gymnastics teams were selected for the Seattle Regional on Friday, April 4, and they will compete against each other, as well as both Missouri and Georgia. The Sun Devils have qualified for NCAAs for the seventh consecutive season, while the Wildcats are making their sixth straight appearance after finishing second at the Big 12 Championships.

One For the Road: The ASU men’s hockey team’s season may be over, but the team continues to receive accolades. Forward Artem Shlaine was named to the NCHC Frozen Faceoff All-Tournament Team after notching three goals in the tourney. Defenseman Ty Murchison, meanwhile, was named the NCHC Defensive Defenseman of the Year. Congrats, fellas!

🧢 Tip of the Hat

Shoutout to Erika, who had a fantastic callback to Caleb Love’s UNC days. Can he channel that same magic against the Blue Devils in the Sweet 16?