Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Greeted by homer barrage
Rotowire
Kelly allowed six runs (four earned) on 10 hits and a walk while striking out one over 5.1 innings in a no-decision versus the Dodgers on Saturday.
Kelly looked to be in for a long night after giving up solo home runs to Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman over his first 11 pitches. Kelly struggled against the top of the Dodgers' order in the second inning as well, but he was able to settle down after that. The right-hander hasn't been very good since he returned from a four-month absence with a shoulder injury -- he's allowed 18 runs (16 earned), including six homers, over 21.1 innings since he returned to action Aug. 11. Kelly has a 4.30 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 33:14 K:BB through 46 innings over eight starts this season. He's tentatively projected to make his next start at San Francisco.
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Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Yields four runs in win
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Kelly (3-0) picked up the win Sunday against Boston, allowing four runs on seven hits and three walks with five strikeouts across six innings.
All four runs charged to Kelly came via the long ball, with Triston Casas lifting a solo homer with two outs in the first inning and Rafael Devers swatting a three-run home run in the fourth frame. Still, Kelly received enough run support to pick up his third win of the campaign. Since being activated from the injured list Aug. 11, Kelly has a 6.75 ERA and an 11:6 K:BB across 16 innings spanning three starts. The right-hander has allowed 10 combined runs in his last two starts. He'll look to get back on track next time out in an expected matchup with the Dodgers.
Kelly did not factor into the decision, allowing six runs on eight hits and two walks over five innings Sunday against the Rays. He struck out four.
Kelly struggled mightily in his second start since returning from a stint on the 60-day IL with a shoulder injury. Despite allowing five runs through five, Kelly was allowed to start the sixth. However, he walked both batters he faced in the inning, and he was pulled with one of those batters later coming around to score, saddling him with six earned runs allowed. On a promising note, Kelly was extended to 96 pitches -- 11 more than he tossed in his previous start -- indicating that he's not being governed by any restrictions. This marked his first outing this season in which he's allowed more than two runs, lifting his ERA from 2.43 to 3.63. His next opportunity to take the hill is scheduled to come next week when the Diamondbacks travel to Boston to take on the Red Sox.
Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Picks up win in return to rotation
Rotowire
Kelly (3-0) earned a win over the Phillies on Sunday, allowing two runs on three hits and two walks while striking out two over five innings.
All of the damage against Kelly came in the opening frame after Alec Bohm drove in two runs on a double to center field. From there, Kelly was able to settle in, retiring 14 of the next 16 batters he faced. Kelly wasn't on much of a workload restriction either, finishing with 85 pitches before his day was done. The return of the 35-year-old gives the Diamondbacks a healthy rotation for the first time this year after they also added Eduardo Rodriguez to the mix earlier in the week. Kelly now holds a 2.43 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 23:8 K:BB in 29.2 innings and will face the Rays on the road in his next start over the weekend.
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Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Activated for start Sunday
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The Diamondbacks reinstated Kelly (shoulder) from the 60-day injured list to start Sunday's game against the Phillies, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.
The 35-year-old right-hander has been sidelined since mid-April due to a teres major strain of his right shoulder, but he's ready to rejoin Arizona's rotation after one rehab start. Kelly threw 62 pitches over four innings for High-A Hillsboro in that outing, so he'll likely face some workload limitations in his first couple starts back in the majors. He posted a 2.19 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and 21:6 K:BB over 24.2 innings prior to going down with the injury.
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Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Confirmed for start
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Kelly (shoulder) will be reinstated from the 60-day injured list to start Sunday's game against the Phillies, Jesse Friedman of GoPHNX.com reports.
As expected, Kelly will take the mound for Arizona on Sunday for the first time since April. The 35-year-old threw 62 pitches in his lone minor-league start, so he should be under some sort of pitch count during his MLB return. Kelly allowed three runs on six hits and no walks across four innings during the minor-league outing and may need to shake off some rust before recapturing his early 2024 form.
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Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Expected to start Sunday
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Manager Torey Lovullo said Friday that it's "very likely" Kelly (shoulder) will be activated from the 60-day injured list to start Sunday's game against Philadelphia, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.
Kelly has been on the shelf since late April with a teres major strain of his right shoulder. After throwing 62 pitches in a four-inning rehab start for High-A Hillsboro on Tuesday, Kelly looks to have showed well enough in that outing for the Diamondbacks to bring him back. The 35-year-old was dominant before going down with the injury, logging a 2.19 ERA across 24.2 innings over four starts with Arizona. However, expectations shouldn't be too high for Kelly in his first start back, considering the lengthy absence in addition to the fact that he'll be matching up against Philadelphia's potent offense.
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Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Set for bullpen session
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Kelly (shoulder) will throw a bullpen session Friday at Chase Field, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.
Kelly made a rehab start with High-A Hillsboro on Tuesday, surrendering three runs on six hits while striking out two batters over four innings. The right-hander has been out since late April while recovering from a right shoulder strain, and it's possible that if Friday's session goes well, Kelly could be activated from the 60-day injured list as soon as Sunday.
Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Targets set for rehab start
Rotowire
Kelly (shoulder) is scheduled to throw four innings and 65 pitches in Tuesday's rehab start for High-A Hillsboro, MLB.com reports.
The news that Kelly was set to begin a rehab assignment Tuesday was already out there, but now the Diamondbacks offered details about a projected length. It's possible, if Kelly meets those projected goals, that this is the right-hander's lone rehab outing.
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Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Making rehab start Tuesday
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Kelly (shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment with High-A Hillsboro on Tuesday, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.
Kelly threw a three-inning simulated game Wednesday, clearing the way for him to make a rehab start. It could be the only one he needs before rejoining the Diamondbacks' rotation. Kelly has been shelved since late April with a teres major strain in his right shoulder.
Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Slated for simulated game
Rotowire
Kelly (shoulder) will throw a three-inning simulated game Wednesday, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.
Eduardo Rodriguez (shoulder) will throw a four-inning simulated game the same day and could join the Diamondbacks' rotation next week. Kelly is behind him, but it doesn't appear by much. A return for the right-hander by mid-August looks doable if all goes well. He's been out since late April with a right shoulder strain.
Kelly (shoulder) threw a bullpen session Sunday, MLB.com reports.
Kelly, who threw a simulated game Thursday, followed up with a bullpen Sunday. The Diamondbacks plan to assess the right-hander after recovering from the session to determine next steps. Kelly landed on the injured list in April after feeling something grab in the shoulder while playing catch in the outfield.
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Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Another sim game scheduled
Rotowire
Kelly (shoulder) is scheduled to throw a simulated game Sunday, MLB.com reports.
Kelly, who tossed a two-inning sim game Thursday, is slowly ramping up for a potential return in the first half of August. It's been a long slog for the right-hander, who landed on the injured list in April. A rehab assignment is certain; the only question being the number of starts Kelly will need.
