Kelly did not factor in the decision during Tuesday's loss to the Royals. He allowed two runs on two hits over six innings while striking out three.
Kelly was nearly untouchable Tuesday, but the only two hits he allowed were solo homers by Vinnie Pasquantino and Mike Yastrzemski in the first and sixth innings, respectively. It was Kelly's second straight quality start, and he needed only 71 pitches (50 strikes) to get it done. He's been taken deep five times in the last three games after giving up five homers over his previous eight starts. Kelly lowered his season ERA to 3.35 with a 139:44 K:BB through 150.2 innings. He owns a 4.09 ERA in four starts since being traded to Texas. Kelly is projected for a home matchup with the Guardians this weekend.
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Rangers' Merrill Kelly: Solid vs. former team
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Kelly did not factor into the decision in Wednesday's loss to the Diamondbacks. He gave up two runs on seven hits and a walk while striking out five across six innings.
Facing his former team, Kelly turned in a solid bounce-back effort after giving up four runs in just 4.1 frames in his previous outing against the Phillies. The 36-year-old Kelly has held opponents to two runs or fewer in six of his last seven starts. His ERA sits at 3.36 with a 1.09 WHIP and 136:44 K:BB across 25 starts (144.2 innings) between Texas and Arizona. Kelly is currently lined up to face the Royals on the road in his next start.
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Rangers' Merrill Kelly: Set for team debut Saturday
Rotowire
Kelly is scheduled to start Saturday's game against the Mariners at T-Mobile Park.
Acquired from the Diamondbacks on Thursday, Kelly will join the Texas rotation as a replacement for right-hander Kumar Rocker, who was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock on Friday. Set to become a free agent this winter, the 36-year-old Kelly will be looking to finish the 2025 campaign on a high note while he aims to secure one last big payday in the offseason. He had been Arizona's top starter this season prior to being dealt, turning in a 3.22 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 121:38 K:BB over 128.2 innings.
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Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Works around four walks in win
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Kelly (9-5) earned the win Sunday against St. Louis, yielding two runs on three hits and four walks over six innings. He struck out five.
Despite issuing four free passes for the second consecutive outing, Kelly managed to notch his 12th quality start with this 97-pitch performance. The 36-year-old limited the Cardinals to just one extra-base hit, a Victor Scott double in the third that turned into the first run, as he made his sixth straight start allowing three or fewer runs. Kelly will make an attractive trade chip for Arizona at the upcoming deadline because he's pitched to a 2.79 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 115:30 K:BB across 113 innings since a nine-run disaster at the Yankees on April 3. The veteran righty currently lines up for a juicy matchup at Pittsburgh next weekend.
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Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Shaky command in win
Rotowire
Kelly (8-5) allowed one run on one hit and four walks while striking out six over five innings to earn the win over the Angels on Sunday.
Kelly battled calf discomfort in his last start, but he looks to be fine after a 98-pitch start, though he landed just 58 of those pitches for strikes. He was still able to limit the damage to a Mike Trout RBI single in the third inning, and the Diamondbacks gave Kelly plenty of support to pick up his first win in four starts. The four walks matched his season high from his first start of the year, while the right-hander was able to keep the ball in the yard for the first time in six outings. He's at a 3.34 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 113:33 K:BB across 116 innings over 20 starts this season. Kelly should be in line for a start in Arizona's home series versus the Cardinals after the All-Star break.
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Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: In clear to start Sunday
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Kelly (calf) will start Sunday's game against the Angels in Anaheim.
Kelly dealt with some right calf discomfort in his most recent start Tuesday but still covered seven innings and 77 pitches before he was lifted. Afterward, manager Torey Lovullo downplayed the issue, and Kelly validated his skipper's optimism. The right-hander will head into his final appearance before the All-Star break having turned in quality starts in five of his past seven outings.
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Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Unlucky loss Tuesday
Rotowire
Kelly (7-5) allowed one run on four hits and struck out four without walking a batter over seven innings, taking the loss Tuesday versus the Padres.
Kelly was stuck with an unlucky loss, as he gave up the lone run of the game on a Luis Arraez solo shot to lead off the bottom of the seventh inning. This was the fifth straight start in which Kelly has given up a home run. He's given up 16 runs (13 earned) over 29 innings in that span, which has been one of his more modest stretches in a strong campaign. Overall, Kelly has a 3.41 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 107:29 K:BB across 111 innings over 19 starts. He is projected to start this weekend on the road versus the Angels.
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Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Another scoreless start
Rotowire
Kelly allowed four hits and two walks while striking out seven over six scoreless innings in a no-decision versus the Mariners on Monday.
Kelly logged his third scoreless outing of the season, all of which have come in his last five starts. It hasn't been a stretch of consistency, as he allowed a total of 10 runs (eight earned) over 11 innings in the other two starts in that span. Kelly is still looking like one of the more reliable pitchers in the majors this year with a 3.18 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 79:21 K:BB over 82 innings through 14 starts. The 36-year-old is penciled in for a weekend start at home versus the Padres.
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Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Rebounds with seven shutout innings
Rotowire
Kelly (6-2) earned the win Wednesday against Atlanta after giving up one hit and one walk in seven scoreless innings. He struck out eight.
After conceding eight runs over his previous two starts, Kelly bounced back in a big way Wednesday. The veteran right-hander submitted his seventh quality start of the year, and it was the sixth time in his last 11 appearances that he fired at least six frames while yielding two runs or fewer. Kelly sports a 2.55 ERA, 0.84 WHIP and 69:12 K:BB over 67 innings since April 8, and he's next projected to face a Mariners a club with a .654 OPS against right-handed pitching across 29 outings since May 1.
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Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Fades late in no-decision
Rotowire
Kelly came away with a no-decision in Saturday's 6-5 loss to the Cardinals, giving up four runs on six hits and a walk over six-plus innings. He struck out six.
The veteran righty was locked in a pitchers' duel with Matthew Liberatore through six frames, but Kelly put the first three batters of the seventh on base with two hits and a walk, and all three came around to score after he'd left the mound. The Diamondbacks struck back for four runs in the top of the eighth to take him off the hook for the loss, however. Kelly was sharp prior to the late fade, racking up 31 called or swinging strikes among his 100 pitches (66 total strikes), and he'll take a 3.52 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 58:16 K:BB through 64 innings into his next start, which lines up to come at home next weekend against the Nationals.
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Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Dazzles in win
Rotowire
Kelly (5-2) picked up the win Sunday against Colorado, allowing one hit and three walks with 11 strikeouts over seven scoreless innings.
Kelly dominated the Rockies, tossing his first scoreless start of 2025 and setting season-best marks in hits allowed and strikeouts. The 36-year-old has been stellar this year outside of a blowup start against the Yankees on April 3, owning a 1.99 ERA and a 50:12 K:BB over 54.1 innings in his other appearances. He's expected to take the mound again next weekend during a road series against the Cardinals.
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Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Ready to start Wednesday
Rotowire
Kelly (hamstring) is listed as the Diamondbacks' probable starter or Wednesday's game against the Mets in Arizona.
The Diamondbacks are already having Corbin Burnes (shoulder) skip his start during the three-game series versus the Mets, but the team won't have to make any further additions to the rotation with Kelly having bounced back well since exiting his most recent outing Friday in Philadelphia due to right hamstring cramping. He's now experienced leg cramps in two of his last three starts, but Kelly has pitched effectively in each of those occasions. He'll enter Wednesday's contest with a 4.06 ERA and 1.06 WHIP over 37.2 innings on the season.
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Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Gives up two homers in no-decision
Rotowire
Kelly allowed two runs on four hits and a walk while striking out four over six innings in a no-decision versus Atlanta on Saturday.
Kelly gave up solo shots to Marcell Ozuna in the first inning and Sean Murphy in the second. He settled in after that and left in line for the win before Jalen Beeks blew the lead by allowing three runs in the eighth. This was Kelly's third quality start of the season, and he came up just one out short of that achievement in his previous outing, which was cut short by a minor leg injury. The right-hander is now at a 4.41 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 25:12 K:BB across 32.2 innings over six starts this season. The walk rate is a little elevated, but nothing is too far out of line with his career norms. Kelly's next start is projected to be at Philadelphia.
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Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Fans nine in win
Rotowire
Kelly (3-1) allowed a run on three hits and a walk over six innings Tuesday, striking out nine and earning a win over the Marlins.
Kelly cruised to an easy win while his offense posted a double-digit scoring performance. The lone run against him was an RBI groundout from Liam Hicks in the second inning. Kelly forced a season-high 13 whiffs after generating just 19 total in his first three starts. He still owns an unsightly 5.57 ERA, but that was mostly due to his nine-run blow-up start against the Yankees on April 3. Kelly is currently projected for a road matchup against the Cubs this weekend.
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Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Rallies for second win
Rotowire
Kelly (2-1) picked up the win in Tuesday's 4-3 victory over the Orioles, allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits and two walks over six-plus innings. He struck out four.
The veteran right-hander was tagged for a pair of runs in the first inning, an ominous sign after Kelly got ambushed by the Yankees his last time out, but he steadied the ship after that and produced his first quality start of the season on 89 pitches (61 strikes). Kelly's 7.20 ERA still shows the scars of that trip to the Bronx, and his 7:9 K:BB in 15 innings hasn't been fantasy-friendly, but he may be trending in the right direction. He's scheduled to make his next start on the road early next week in Miami.
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Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Demolished by Yankees in loss
Rotowire
Kelly (1-1) took the loss after allowing nine runs on nine hits and three walks in 3.2 innings Thursday against the Yankees. He struck out two.
Thursday's showing was ugly from the get-go for Kelly, who served up a three-run home run to Aaron Judge in the first inning before recording a single out. Trent Grisham added an RBI double in the opening frame and also belted a two-run shot in the third inning, with Kelly's night finally coming to a merciful end after a Jazz Chisholm two-run homer in the fourth. Kelly will look to put this disastrous performance in the rear-view mirror in his next scheduled start, which lines up for early next week at home against the Orioles.
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Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Picks up win despite shaky control
Rotowire
Kelly (1-0) recorded the win in Friday's 8-1 rout of the Cubs, allowing one run on three hits and four walks over 5.1 innings. He struck out one.
It was far from a dominant outing for the 36-year-old righty to kick off the season, but Kelly minimized the damage from his free passes and got more than enough offensive support. He left the mound after 85 pitches (51 strikes). Kelly will likely need to be sharper in his next trip to the mound, which is scheduled to come on the road next week against the Yankees.
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Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Scoreless spring outing
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Kelly allowed five hits while striking out one over 3.1 scoreless innings in Tuesday's spring start against the Royals.
Kelly threw 48 pitches in his third Cactus League start, the same number of pitches he threw the last time out, March 7, against the Mariners. He navigated first-inning trouble with the help of his defense; a baserunner was caught attempting to steal and a second one was picked off by Kelly, the third time he's picked off a runner this spring. After three spring outings, Kelly has a 2.35 ERA over 7.2 innings.
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Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Dealing with calf cramp
Rotowire
Kelly was removed from Saturday's game against the Brewers due to a right calf cramp.
Kelly had thrown 72 pitches through five scoreless innings and was set to come out for the sixth, but after a long discussion on the mound, he was pulled from the game. He finished with six strikeouts while allowing just two hits. Kelly has dealt with leg cramps in the past, and he was forced to leave his start against the Rangers on Sept. 11 due to hamstring cramping. It's unclear whether his current injury will force him to miss his next start in the rotation.
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Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Leaves with apparent cramping
Rotowire
Kelly left Saturday's game against the Brewers after five innings with an apparent injury, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.
Kelly was visited by trainers on the mound before leaving the game. The 35-year-old has been forced to exit games early in the past due to leg cramps, with the last instance taking place Sept. 11 against the Rangers. Kelly finishes the contest having thrown five scoreless innings while allowing just two hits and striking out six batters. Joe Mantiply came in for Kelly in the top of the sixth inning.
