Merrill Kelly Stats
- Height / Weight
- 6' 2" / 202 lbs.
- Date of Birth (Age)
- 10/14/1988 (35)
- Experience
- 5
- College
- Arizona State
Merrill Kelly Season Stats
Last 10 Games
Merrill Kelly News
Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly (shoulder) will shift to the 60-day injured list to free up a 40-man roster spot for incoming right-hander Matt Bowman from the Minnesota Twins for cash considerations. This is a fairly significant update for Kelly, considering manager Torey Lovullo said on April 23 that the hurler's strained right shoulder would undergo re-imaging in the upcoming weeks. As a result, the D-backs and fantasy managers will now be without Kelly until early July at the earliest. The 35-year-old right-hander was working to an excellent 2.19 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, and 21:6 K:BB over 24 2/3 innings (four starts) before heading to the IL, and he's well worth a stash for those who can afford the roster spot. Right-hander Slade Cecconi should continue functioning from Arizona's rotation, and he's trending up with a 2.25 ERA, 0.50 WHIP, and 11:1 K:BB across 12 frames (two starts).
Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said Tuesday that the team could be without starting pitcher Merrill Kelly (shoulder) for at least a month. Kelly was placed on the injured list earlier in the day with a right shoulder strain. When asked if the 35-year-old would be back by the All-Star break, Lovullo said, "I don't know. Hard to say." This is a big blow to the Diamondbacks and fantasy managers, as Kelly had a 2.19 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, and 22.8% strikeout rate in his first four starts. Tommy Henry figures to slot into the rotation in Kelly's place, but fantasy managers may want to look elsewhere for immediate replacements.
Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly (shoulder) has been placed on the 15-day injured list on Tuesday. The right-hander is dealing with a shoulder strain, but reportedly won't need surgery, according to manager Torey Lovullo. The D-Backs have not given a timetable on Kelly's possible return to the mound. It sounds like the organization plans to have Kelly undergo further testing before they decide on what to do. Southpaw Tommy Henry has been recalled from the minors and figures to slide into the open spot in the starting rotation.
Batting Order
1 | Ketel Marte |
2 | Corbin Carroll |
3 | Lourdes Gurriel Jr. |
4 | Christian Walker |
5 | Randal Grichuk |
6 | Eugenio Suárez |
7 | Gabriel Moreno |
8 | Blaze Alexander |
9 | Kevin Newman |
Merrill Kelly Stats
Last 10 Games
Batting Order
1 | Ketel Marte |
2 | Corbin Carroll |
3 | Lourdes Gurriel Jr. |
4 | Christian Walker |
5 | Randal Grichuk |
6 | Eugenio Suárez |
7 | Gabriel Moreno |
8 | Blaze Alexander |
9 | Kevin Newman |
Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Merrill Kelly once again started 30 games in 2023, totaling 177 2/3 innings with a 12-8 record and 3.29 ERA. More importantly, in his age-34 season, Kelly saw an uptick in strikeouts, with a career-high 25.9 K% compared to 22.0 K% in 2022. A significant factor in this increase in strikeouts should be credited to his high 32.9 chase% compared to his 29.9 chase% the year prior. A look under the hood shows that his changeup was effective in 2023. This pitch generated a 32% whiff rate in 2023 compared to 28.0% in 2022. In addition, it produced a minuscule .234 SLG, while in 2022, it produced a hefty .361 SLG. While his overall average exit velocity of 89.6 mph was below average, it is encouraging to see a 34-year-old find untapped strikeout numbers this late in his career. Kelly will provide a stable option as a starter over the long course of the season that is not common in baseball today. He may not be why you win your league, but I doubt he will lose it, and a few extra punchouts along the way are an unexpected plus. ATC projects Kelly to start 29 games with 11 wins and a higher 3.94 ERA, making him a solid pick at his current NFBC ADP of 152.