Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: D-backs pick up option
Rotowire
The Diamondbacks exercised Kelly's $7 million club option for 2025 on Saturday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
After missing a four-month chunk of the season due to a shoulder injury, Kelly finished 2024 with a 4.03 ERA and 1.17 WHIP across 73.2 innings over 13 starts. Hopeful for a bounce-back campaign in 2025, the D-backs will keep the 36-year-old righty around to bolster a pitching staff that ranked 27th in the majors with a 4.62 ERA.
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Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Takes first loss
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Kelly (5-1) allowed five runs on eight hits and a walk while striking out eight over 5.2 innings Friday, taking the loss versus the Padres.
Kelly left his last start due to a right calf cramp, but it wasn't a lasting issue for the right-hander. He was shaky in the first inning Friday, allowing four of the five runs and four of the eight hits on his line as the Padres jumped ono him early. He also gave up an RBI triple to Luis Arraez in the fourth. Kelly wraps up an injury-plagued regular season with a 4.03 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 63:19 K:BB over 73.2 innings across 13 starts, missing nearly four months with a shoulder injury.
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
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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.
Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Solid outing in no decision
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Kelly came away with a no decision in Monday's loss to the Rockies. He allowed one run on two hits and two walks over six innings. He struck out five.
Kelly exited his previous start against the Rangers due to a hamstring injury but was able to get through six innings with relative ease on Monday. Kelly came into the start with a 5.85 ERA over six starts since returning from the injured list Aug. 11, but he now has two quality starts in his last three appearances. The 35-year-old will carry a 4.00 ERA and 1.19 WHIP into his next start against the Brewers.
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Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Cleared to pitch Monday
Rotowire
Kelly is listed as the Diamondbacks' probable starting pitcher for Monday's game against the Rockies at Coors Field.
The right-hander will take his next turn through the rotation on his normal four days' rest, despite exiting his previous start Wednesday against the Rangers after four-plus innings due to right hamstring cramping. Since returning from the injured list Aug. 11 following a prolonged absence due to a teres major strain of his shoulder, Kelly has gone 2-0 with a 5.85 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 23:10 K:BB in 32.1 innings over six starts.
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Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Could start early next week
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Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said Friday that Kelly (hamstring) could start Monday or Tuesday against the Rockies in Colorado, ArizonaSports.com reports.
Lovullo said Kelly was doing better Friday, and if that trend continues, the right-hander will be ready to take his next turn through the rotation. Kelly was pulled from his previous start Wednesday against the Rangers with right hamstring cramps.
Manager Torey Lovullo said Kelly was lifted from Wednesday's start due to right hamstring cramping, but the right-hander is expected to make his next turn through the rotation, Jesse Friedman of GoPHNX.com reports.
Kelly allowed three earned runs over four innings before being lifted from Wednesday's contest, but he doesn't appear to be dealing with a serious injury. The 35-year-old's next turn through the rotation tentatively lines up for Monday in Colorado, and he should be expected to take the mound then unless the hamstring issue lingers.
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Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Exits start with possible cramping
Rotowire
Kelly was removed from Wednesday's start against the Rangers in the fifth inning with an undisclosed injury, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.
The Diamondbacks should provide an update on Kelly's condition after the game, but he has dealt with cramping multiple times in the past and was seen shaking his leg during a visit from the trainer. Kelly struck out three and was charged with two runs over four-plus innings before being removed.
Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Rebounds with seven quality innings
Rotowire
Kelly did not factor into the decision Thursday, allowing two runs on six hits over seven innings against the Giants. He struck out eight.
Kelly was sharp Thursday, completing seven frames with the only blemish against his line being a two-out single in the fourth by Patrick Bailey that drove in two to tie the game. However, despite knocking out Giants' starter Blake Snell after just one inning, the Diamondbacks couldn't muster any more runs against the San Francisco bullpen and Kelly left with a quality no-decision. The eight strikeouts matched a season high and were the most Kelly has accumulated since his first start of the season. His performance comes on the heels of allowing 14 earned runs including six homers over his previous three starts spanning 16.1 innings. He'll look to ride the momentum from Thursday's start into his next outing, scheduled to take place when Arizona hosts the Rangers in a rematch of the 2023 World Series.
