Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: D-backs pick up option
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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: Dealing with calf cramp
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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.
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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
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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
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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.
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Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Rebounds with seven quality innings
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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.
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Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Greeted by homer barrage
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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: 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: 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.
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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.
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: Throws sim game
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Kelly (shoulder) threw two innings in a simulated game Thursday, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.
Kelly faced hitters for the first time since being placed on the injured list in late April with a strained right shoulder. The 35-year-old is slated to throw again Sunday and looks to be nearing a rehab assignment. Kelly has only made four starts this season, and will likely require multiple rehab starts before being cleared.
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Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: On track to face hitters soon
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Kelly (shoulder) is expected to throw two more bullpen sessions before facing hitters, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.
Kelly is slated to throw off the bump Saturday and is expected to require one additional bullpen session before being cleared to face hitters. Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said Friday that the right-hander is "feeling really, really good." Kelly is been limited to just four starts this season with a right shoulder strain and will need time to ramp things back up, but the recent reports on his progress have been positive.
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Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Throws side session Friday
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Kelly (shoulder) threw 32 pitches in a bullpen session Friday, MLB.com reports.
Kelly completed his second bullpen session of the week and looks like he could be ready to face hitters as soon as next week The right-hander has been on the shelf since April 23 with a right shoulder strain and is tentatively expected to return in early August.
Kelly (shoulder) completed a bullpen session Tuesday, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.
Kelly, along with teammates Jordan Montgomery (knee) and Eduardo Rodriguez (shoulder), all threw bullpen sessions Tuesday, and manager Torey Lovullo said all three pitchers "felt good" afterwards. Kelly hasn't pitched since being placed on the injured list April 23 with a right shoulder strain, and his mid-August return timeline gives him the furthest return date of the trio of injured starters.
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Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Set to throw off mound Tuesday
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Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said Monday that Kelly (shoulder) will throw a bullpen session Tuesday, Theo Mackie of The Arizona Republic reports.
Kelly recently upped his throwing distance to 120 feet, and Tuesday will mark the first time he's thrown off the mound since straining his right shoulder in April. It's a positive step in the 35-year-old's throwing program, though the right-hander isn't expected to come off the injured list until mid-to-late August. In the four starts prior to his injury, Kelly was 2-0 with a 2.19 ERA and 0.93 WHIP over 24.2 innings.
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Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Throwing from 120 feet
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Kelly (shoulder) recently increased his throwing distance off flat ground to 120 feet, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.
Though Kelly is steadily upping his throwing distance, the Diamondbacks haven't yet indicated when the right-hander might be ready to resume mound work. In any case, Kelly recently acknowledged that he's not expecting to come off the 60-day injured list until mid-to-late August, so he still has several weeks to go and multiple checkpoints to hit in his rehab program before a more precise target date for his return is identified.
