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: Pitches well but gets no support
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Kelly (5-5) took the loss against Miami on Thursday, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out one batter over six innings.
Kelly didn't allow any extra-base hits and was efficient in getting through six frames on 74 pitches. However, the two runs he allowed were enough to saddle him with the loss, as Arizona managed just three hits and no runs against five Marlins hurlers. Kelly did notch his fifth quality start of the campaign and rebounded well after yielding seven runs over five innings against Washington in his previous outing. He'll carry a 5.46 ERA and 1.45 WHIP into his next start, which is scheduled to be at home against the Angels.
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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: Struggles with command again
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Kelly (1-2) took the loss Tuesday against the Brewers, allowing five runs on six hits and five walks while striking out one over five innings.
Kelly came into Tuesday looking to bounce back from a disaster outing in his last start, when he allowed eight runs in 4.1 innings against the White Sox, but his command issues continued to cause him trouble. The right-hander threw just 58 of his 104 pitches for strikes and issued five walks, creating constant traffic on the bases. Those free passes proved costly, as two of Kelly's walks came around to score in the fourth inning on a Joey Ortiz single. Through three starts, Kelly now holds a 9.20 ERA, 2.25 WHIP and 9:12 K:BB across 14.2 innings. With a tough matchup against the Cubs looming, it may be difficult for him to turn things around immediately.
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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.
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Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Headed to injured list
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The Diamondbacks will place Kelly (back) on the 15-day injured list to begin the regular season, Alex D'Agostino of SI.com reports.
Kelly was expected to have a delayed start to the year while he continues to work his way back from a back injury, and he will officially spend the start of the season on the IL. If he is able to return after a minimum-length stay, he'd be lined up to make his season debut April 7 versus the White Sox.
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Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Set for another bullpen
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Kelly (back) threw a successful live batting practice session Sunday and will throw another one this week before potentially pitching in a Cactus League game, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.
The veteran right-hander is working his way back from a bout of mid-back tightness, which prevented him from building up normally early in camp. Kelly is now ramping up his throwing sessions and could soon be cleared for game action. He won't be ready for the opening series of the season, but manager Torey Lovullo previously indicated that could still avoid a stint on the injured list to begin the campaign.
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Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Feels fine after bullpen
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Kelly (back) threw a bullpen session Thursday and said he felt fine afterwards, Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports reports.
Kelly unleashed his entire arsenal during the session, throwing close to 30 pitches. "I got a chance to speak with him directly after the bullpen, and he said he feels really good," Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said. The Diamondbacks have yet to determine the next steps for the right-hander, but the fact that Kelly was able to return to the mound this early in spring training bodes well for his availability for the regular season.
Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said Wednesday that Kelly (back) will throw a bullpen session Thursday, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.
Kelly came down with mid-back tightness shortly after camp opened, and as a result, will no longer start for the Diamondbacks on Opening Day. However, he has a chance to avoid the injured list and make a start in the second series of the season, and a return to the mound Thursday is a big step toward accomplishing that goal.
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Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Throwing from 60 feet
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Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said Tuesday that Kelly (back) has extended his throwing distance to 60 feet, Alex D'Agostino of SI.com reports.
The right-hander resumed playing catch over the weekend after being shut down for a week due to mid-back tightness, and he's now ramping his throwing program back up. Kelly could soon return to throwing bullpen sessions and has a chance to avoid an IL stint to begin the season, if he can avoid any setbacks.
