Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Struggles again in loss
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Kelly (8-11) took the loss against the Red Sox on Tuesday, allowing six runs on seven hits and four walks with two strikeouts over four innings.
Kelly allowed only four hard-hit balls but had consistent traffic on the basepaths, yielding runs in three separate innings. The 37-year-old has now surrendered six earned runs in each of his past two starts, and he's 0-3 with an 8.24 ERA in four August outings overall. He'll carry a 5.37 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 84:57 K:BB across 129 innings this season into a home matchup with the Cubs next week.
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Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Falls to Colorado
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Kelly (8-10) took the loss Wednesday against the Rockies, allowing six runs on six hits and three walks over five innings. He struck out two.
Four of the runs charged to Kelly came in the fourth inning, capped by a Brett Sullivan three-run homer. He'd subsequently give up a two-run blast to Zac Veen in the fourth. While the long ball hurt Kelly earlier this season, he'd been doing a better job of keeping the ball in the park coming into Wednesday's outing -- he allowed just one homer over 16.1 innings in his previous three starts. Kelly's ERA now sits at 5.11 through 22 starts (125 innings) this season, alongside a 1.48 WHIP and 82:53 K:BB. He'll look to bounce back in his next start, currently slated to come on the road against the Red Sox.
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Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Exits with injury
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Kelly was removed from Friday's game against the Dodgers due to a right leg cramp.
Kelly made it through 5.2 innings Friday while allowing just one run before calling for a trainer to come out to the mound. The Diamondbacks may keep an eye on Kelly's leg over the next few days to be careful, but his cramp likely won't keep him from making his next scheduled start.
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Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Solid again in win
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Kelly (8-8) earned the win against the Athletics on Wednesday, allowing two runs on five hits and one walk with three strikeouts over five innings.
Kelly threw just 52 of 87 pitches for strikes but benefited from an offensive outburst by the Diamondbacks and pitched well enough to improve to 3-0 through four July outings. The 37-year-old has been strong overall during that stretch, allowing only six earned runs while posting an 18:8 K:BB. He'll take a 5.12 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 65:41 K:BB across 103.2 innings this season into a road matchup with the Pirates next week.
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Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Allows one earned run
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Kelly did not factor into the decision Friday, giving up three runs (one earned) on four hits with three strikeouts and two walks over five innings against St. Louis.
The Cardinals tallied two unearned runs on two hits, a walk and an error during the opening frame, but Kelly then kept St. Louis off the board until JJ Wetherholt's solo homer during the fifth inning. The veteran right-hander was unable to extend his win streak to three games, but he continued a strong run of form with a 2.12 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 15:7 K:BB across his last 17 innings. Kelly still has a lot of work to do to bring down his 5.20 ERA and 1.49 WHIP for the campaign.
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Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Spins quality start
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Kelly (7-8) allowed one run on three hits and three walks while striking out six over seven innings to earn the win over the Padres on Thursday.
Kelly turned in a quality start in this outing, allowing just a solo home run to Manny Machado in the second inning. This was Kelly's second win in a row, and he heads into the All-Star break having allowed just three runs over his last 12 innings. Overall, he's still at a 5.38 ERA, 1.51 WHIP and 59:38 K:BB through 93.2 innings over 16 starts this season. He's also given up 20 homers, putting him on pace to allow a career high in long balls -- his worst campaign in that regard was 2019, when he gave up 29 homers.
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Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Suffers seventh loss
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Kelly (5-7) took the loss Monday, allowing three runs on seven hits and three walks over six innings against St. Louis. He struck out two.
Kelly ran into some trouble in the third and fourth innings but was able to mitigate the damage fairly well and record a quality start, though a lack of offense from Arizona saddled the 37-year-old with the loss. The right-hander has had spurts of success but has mostly struggled in 2026, posting a 5.71 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 44:31 K:BB across 75.2 innings (13 starts). Having lost each of his four most recent starts, Kelly will look to reverse that trend in his next outing, tentatively scheduled for Saturday at Tampa Bay.
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Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Reverts to poor form in loss
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Kelly (5-6) allowed six runs on 11 hits and a walk while striking out four over 5.1 innings to take the loss versus the Angels on Tuesday.
This was Kelly's third consecutive loss. He pitched a scoreless first inning but was tagged for at least one run in each of the next five frames, creating a deficit too large for the Diamondbacks to escape. During his skid, Kelly has given up 15 runs over 16.1 innings while posting a 9:6 K:BB. He's at a 5.81 ERA, 1.51 WHIP and 42:28 K:BB through 69.2 innings over 12 starts this season. His velocity has been stable compared to the last couple of years, but a back injury that delayed his start to the season may have disrupted his rhythm. Kelly is projected to make his next start in St. Louis early next week.
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Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Hit hard in loss
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Kelly (5-4) allowed seven runs on six hits, three walks and a hit batsman while striking out four over five innings to take the loss versus the Nationals on Friday.
Kelly had a strong May, but his first start in June was a dud. He allowed three home runs, which accounted for four of the seven runs on his line in his first loss since May 3 versus the Cubs. Kelly is now at a 5.71 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and 37:25 K:BB through 58.1 innings over 10 starts this season. His next start is projected to be on the road versus the Marlins.
Kelly (5-3) earned the win Monday against the Giants, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out four over seven innings.
Kelly turned in another strong outing, tossing 64 of his 96 pitches for strikes while generating 25 combined called and swinging strikes. The veteran right-hander allowed both of his runs in the fourth inning on a two-run double by Rafael Devers, but otherwise kept San Francisco quiet. Kelly has now delivered four straight quality starts, allowing just seven runs over his last 29 innings for a 2.17 ERA during that stretch. Despite the recent success, the underlying metrics remain concerning, as Kelly still ranks in the bottom one percent of MLB in xERA, xSLG and xBA. He now owns a 5.25 ERA with a 31:20 K:BB across eight starts and is scheduled to face Seattle on Sunday.
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Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Rebounds for second win
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Kelly (2-3) allowed one run on three hits and three walks while striking out six over seven innings to earn the win over the Mets on Saturday.
Kelly had been knocked around in his previous three outings, giving up a total of 19 runs across 13.2 innings. He bounced back in a big way Saturday, delivering his best start of the year in a game where he had little margin for error. Performances like this one haven't been the norm in 2026 for the veteran right-hander, who is at a 7.62 ERA, 1.92 WHIP and 20:18 K:BB across 26 innings. Kelly's next start is lined up to be a daunting road assignment in Colorado.
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Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Hammered for six runs in loss
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Kelly (1-3) took the loss Sunday against the Cubs, allowing six runs on eight hits and three walks with five strikeouts across 4.1 innings.
Kelly had the strikeout stuff working at Wrigley Field, but when he wasn't getting whiffs, the Cubs were punishing the right-hander. Moises Ballesteros took Kelly deep in the third inning, and it was Kelly's sixth homer allowed in four starts. After missing the first three weeks of the season, Kelly has limped to a 9.95 ERA and ugly 14:15 K:BB across 19 innings. He's been tagged for 19 runs across 13.2 innings over his last three outings and will try to right the ship next weekend at home against the lowly Mets.
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Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Shelled by ChiSox on Tuesday
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Kelly (1-1) took the loss against the White Sox on Tuesday, allowing eight runs on 10 hits and three walks while striking out five batters over 4.1 innings.
Kelly's outing got off to a disastrous start when he gave up four runs in the first inning. He then allowed three more runs -- on back-to-back-to-back homers -- in the second frame. Kelly bounced back a bit by yielding just one additional run over the remainder of his time in the game, but the early damage was more than enough to saddle him with his first loss in his second start of the season. Kelly has looked shaky so far with an 8:7 K:BB through 9.2 frames, but that could be a result of shaking off rust after missing the first the early portion of the campaign due to a back injury.
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Diamondbacks' Brandon Pfaadt: Saves bullpen in loss
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Pfaadt allowed one run on four hits and two walks while striking out three over 6.1 innings in Sunday's 10-4 loss to Toronto.
The results met the definition of a quality start, but Sunday's appearance was Pfaadt's first as a member of the Diamondbacks' bullpen. He gave the club exactly what it needed after starter Ryne Nelson allowed eight runs and retired just one batter. Prior to joining the 'pen, Pfaadt compiled a 5.94 ERA in three starts and was replaced by Merrill Kelly in the rotation.
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Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Collects win in season debut
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Kelly (1-0) picked up the win in Tuesday's 4-3 victory over the Orioles, allowing two runs on five hits and four walks over 5.1 innings. He struck out three.
The veteran righty got a belated start to the 2026 campaign due to a back issue, and he looked a little rusty in his season debut, tossing only 46 of 86 pitches for strikes and serving up a solo shot to Samuel Basallo. Kelly still did enough to record the win, and he'll get some extra time to rest before his next start as Arizona has team off days scheduled for Thursday and Monday. He lines up to make his next start early next week at home against the White Sox.
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Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Season debut set for Tuesday
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Kelly (back) will be reinstated from the 15-day injured list to make his season debut Tuesday in Baltimore, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.
The right-hander threw five scoreless frames in a minor-league rehab start April 3 and continued to build up at extended spring training this past week with a six-inning, 83-pitch appearance. Kelly has missed the first few weeks of the season due to a back injury, but he should be able to handle a near-full workload for the Diamondbacks in his 2026 debut.
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Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Dazzles at Reno
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Kelly (back) allowed two hits and two walks while striking out two over five scoreless innings for Triple-A Reno on Friday.
Kelly made his first -- and perhaps only -- rehab start Friday and threw 72 pitches (40 strikes). That puts him in range to be activated next week. If Arizona chooses to bring him back, Kelly's five-day schedule lines him up to pitch next Wednesday against the Yankees in New York.
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Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Officially moved to IL
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The Diamondbacks placed Kelly on the 15-day injured list Wednesday due to left intercostal nerve irritation.
While Kelly won't be part of the Arizona's Opening Day rotation, he may need to miss only two or three turns before making his 2026 debut. Despite being set back by the injury in camp, Kelly was able to make three starts during spring training and most recently covered 52 pitches and two-plus innings Monday. He's expected to build on that workload in a rehab start with Triple-A Reno on April 3 and is tentatively scheduled for another minor-league tuneup outing April 8 before likely returning from the IL thereafter.
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Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Rehab schedule mapped out
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Kelly (back) is scheduled to pitch in a simulated game on the back fields of extended spring training Saturday, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.
If all goes well Saturday, Kelly will then pitch rehab outings for Triple-A Reno on April 3 and April 8 in preparation to rejoin the Diamondbacks for his 2026 debut. He was able to throw 52 pitches and worked into the third inning in his final spring outing Monday and said he still has work to do in terms of timing and mechanics. The right-hander is expected to be placed on the 15-day injured list prior to the Diamondbacks' season opener Thursday in Los Angeles.
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Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Expected to need rehab start
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Kelly (back) will make a rehab start at Triple-A Reno before being reinstated from the 15-day injured list, Jose M. Romero of The Arizona Republic reports.
This update shouldn't be much of a surprise for fantasy managers, as the D-Backs want to see how Kelly fares in a game setting before activating him from the IL. If all goes according to plan, the right-hander could be ready to make his 2026 debut at some point during Arizona's second road trip of the season, either in New York or Philadelphia.
