Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Likely to miss at least one month
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Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said after Tuesday's 14-1 win over the Cardinals that he expects Kelly (shoulder) to miss at least one month after landing on the 15-day injured list, Theo Mackie of The Arizona Republic reports. "We're not looking in terms of weeks as what we had hoped for," Lovullo said of Kelly's timetable for a return from a teres major strain in his right shoulder. "So I think the next step up is a month, more than that."
Kelly had rolled to a 2-0 record, 2.19 ERA and 0.93 WHIP over 24.2 innings through his first four starts of the season before he was scratched ahead of his most recent turn in the rotation this past Sunday against the Giants upon experiencing shoulder discomfort during a throwing session. He was sent in for two MRIs in recent days, and although both confirmed that Kelly had sustained a teres major strain, Lovullo noted that the Diamondbacks don't yet know if the strain is of the Grade 1, 2 or 3 variety. Lovullo added that Kelly will receive "a couple other opinions" on his injury before a firmer timeline and a treatment method is established, but the skipper said that the right-hander won't need surgery even while the "concern [level] is yet to be determined." In any case, Kelly's fantasy managers can probably feel comfortable ruling him out for all of May, and it could be difficult to justify stashing the 35-year-old if his timeline for a return ultimately gets pushed back further.
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Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Heads to 15-day IL
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The Diamondbacks placed Kelly on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with a right shoulder strain.
Kelly was diagnosed with a teres major strain of his right shoulder following an MRI. He had been scheduled to start this past Sunday's series finale in San Francisco, but he was scratched after experiencing discomfort prior to the game. The Diamondbacks were initially hopeful the 35-year-old would avoid a stint on the IL, but that naturally went by the wayside with Tuesday's development. In a corresponding move, Tommy Henry was recalled from Triple-A Reno and should step into Kelly's spot in the rotation.
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Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Likely headed for IL
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Kelly (shoulder) is expected to require a stint on the 15-day injured list, Theo Mackie of The Arizona Republic reports.
The D-Backs were initially hopeful that Kelly would be able to avoid a 15-day shutdown, but skipper Torey Lovullo stated after Monday's matchup that the right-hander is "most likely" headed to the IL to rehab from a shoulder strain. Arizona will likely wait until Tuesday to make the move official.
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Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Tending to shoulder strain
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Kelly disclosed Sunday that he was diagnosed with a teres major strain of his right shoulder following his initial MRI and is on track to receive another MRI on Monday in Phoenix, ESPN.com reports.
Kelly had been scheduled to start Sunday's series finale in San Francisco, but he was scratched after experiencing discomfort while playing catch Saturday before the MRI confirmed that he was dealing with a shoulder strain. More information on the severity of the strain could be available after Monday's MRI, but for the time being, the Diamondbacks are holding out hope that the right-hander will avoid a trip to the 15-day injured list. Slade Cecconi was called up from Triple-A Reno to start in Sunday's 5-3 win and will likely be in store for additional turns through the rotation if Kelly is shut down for any length of time.
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Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Dealing with shoulder issue
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Kelly will return to Phoenix to be evaluated after he was scratched ahead of his scheduled start Sunday in San Francisco due to a right shoulder injury, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.
Kelly had an MRI on Saturday, but the Diamondbacks haven't disclosed the results. While the fact that Kelly is being sent in for further evaluation wouldn't seem to be a promising sign, manager Torey Lovullo hopes a trip to the injured list won't be necessary for the right-hander. Slade Cecconi was called up from Triple-A Reno to start in the series finale against the Giants.
Kelly (undisclosed) was scratched from Sunday's game against the Giants, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.
Kelly was set to make his fifth start of the season Sunday. It's unclear why Kelly was scratched, though Piecoro speculates that its due to an injury. Kelly has gone 2-0 over his first four starts of the year, posting a 2.19 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and 21:6 K:BB over 24.2 innings. In Kelly's place, Slade Cecconi, who was called up from Triple-A Reno on Sunday, will get the start.
Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Fans five in no-decision
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Kelly yielded a run on three hits and two walks over five innings in a no-decision Monday against the Cubs. He struck out five.
Aside from a solo homer he allowed to Michael Busch, Kelly turned in a standard solid outing. It was Kelly's shortest start of the year, but he's now allowed two or fewer runs in each of his first four appearances in 2024. The veteran righty also set a new season high by forcing 13 swinging strikes. He'll carry a 2.19 ERA into his next start, which is lined up to be in San Francisco this weekend.
Kelly (2-0) got the win over the Rockies on Tuesday, allowing two runs on six hits and three walks in six innings. He struck out four.
Five of the six hits allowed by Kelly went for singles, as he was able to keep the damage against him to a minimum in a ballpark where baseballs tend to travel far. It was his first outing of the year with multiple walks, but he now has three quality starts in as many tries to open 2024 and owns a 2.29 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 16:4 K:BB in 19.2 innings. He tentatively lines up for a start against the Cubs his next time out.
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Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Solid over seven frames
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Kelly did not factor into the decision Wednesday, allowing two runs on five hits and one walk over seven innings in a 6-5 loss to the Yankees. He struck out four.
Kelly allowed the leadoff runner to reach base in three of his first four innings of work and it finally cost him in the fourth when Aaron Judge jumped on a hanging sinker and sent it into the stands, giving the Yankees a 2-1 lead. The right-hander recovered nicely, however, surrendering just two singles and a walk from that point on as the Diamondbacks fell to New York in the series finale. Kelly has now logged back-to-back quality starts to open the season, posting a 12:1 K:BB over that early stretch.
Kelly (1-0) struck out eight and allowed one run on three hits and no walks over 6.2 innings Friday in the Diamondbacks' 7-3 win over the Rockies.
After coughing up three hits in the first two frames, including a solo shot by Elias Diaz, Kelly settled in to retire 15 straight Rockies. The right-hander forced 12 swinging strikes on 79 total pitches, with four whiffs each via the fastball and slider. The slider was a main focus during the offseason, and the pitcher threw it 14 times -- the second-most sliders he's thrown in a single game. "Definitely the biggest takeaway, I think, for me was the slider today," Kelly told Steve Gilbert of MLB.com. "The slider definitely jumped out as it seems like it's shown itself as a useful pitch." Kelly has been a consistent force for Arizona recently, registering a 3.33 ERA across 378 innings from 2022-2023, and he's off to an impressive beginning to the 2024 campaign. He's currently projected to take the mound at home against the Yankees next week.
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Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Logs strong third spring outing
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Kelly allowed four hits and one walk while striking out seven over 3.1 innings in Monday's spring start against Oakland.
Kelly, on track to pitch the second game of the regular season, was pleased with the shape of his pitches in talking to Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports. "Everything was sharp, fastball is coming out of the hand well, really liking the progress of the slider, I saw some really good swings and misses and some good location on it today," Kelly said. A byproduct of his seven punchouts, however, was an elevated pitch count; Kelly needed 65 pitches to secure those 10 outs. The right-hander will have one more Cactus League start to get the pitches up to the point where he can throw five or six innings in his first start of the regular season.
Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Features changeup in second start
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Kelly allowed two runs on five hits and struck out four over three innings in Wednesday's spring start against the Rockies.
Kelly emptied the entire arsenal of pitches Wednesday, throwing 47 overall. He worked on his changeup leading up to his second Cactus League start, after featuring a developing slider the first time out. "I've thrown my changeup for a long time now, it's kind of been the pitch that I've gone to when I needed something," Kelly told Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports. "The slider is obviously something that I want to make more consistent and more into a usable pitch, so the emphasis coming into spring was on the slider and sometimes when you do that the feel for the rest of the pitches kind of isn't as sharp." Kelly will get two more starts to work up to 75-80 pitches before the regular season opens.
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Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Throws perfect two innings
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Kelly struck out three over two scoreless, no-hit innings in Friday's start against the Cubs.
Kelly was making his first Cactus League appearance this spring. He's coming off a career-high 201.1 innings in 2023, including the postseason, so the Diamondbacks held him back for a bit to begin camp. The right-hander will get in at least another three spring outings, before he's expected to start the second game of the regular season, Mar. 29, at home against Colorado.
