The Arizona Diamondbacks exercised their 2025 club option on starting pitcher Merrill Kelly, according to Jon Heyman of the NY Post. The 36-year-old made only 13 starts this season after sitting out for an extended period with a shoulder injury. He logged 73 2/3 innings of work with a 4.03 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, and a 19:63 BB:K ratio. Under the hood, he carried a poor 4.93 xERA and .266 xBA, which were among the worst marks among qualified pitchers. In addition, he posted a below-average 40.9% hard-hit rate and a 10.7% barrel rate. Fantasy managers should expect the right-hander to remain in the Arizona rotation through the entire 2025 season and be a stable low-end starter to target late in drafts.
Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said that right-hander Merrill Kelly (hamstring) is expected to make his next start after leaving his last outing on Wednesday against the Texas Rangers with hamstring cramping. Kelly's next start will be either on Monday or Tuesday at Coors Field against the division-rival Colorado Rockies, depending on how Kelly feels. "We're going to see it through Merrill's eyes. He's fine today, he should be fine tomorrow. If he continues to be fine every day, we will make a decision if it's going to be Monday or Tuesday," Lovullo said on Friday. Coors Field isn't an ideal location to pitch after an injury scare, but the 35-year-old Kelly will be close to a must-start in that one just based on the opponent. Kelly has been inconsistent in his six starts since returning from a long IL stint on Aug. 11, posting a 5.85 ERA with 23 K's, 10 walks and seven homers allowed in 32 1/3 innings.
Updating a previous report, Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly (hamstring) was forced to exit early during Wednesday's start against the Texas Rangers. The right-hander was pulled in the fifth inning due to right-hamstring cramping. It sounds like a minor issue, and the team is hopeful that Kelly can make his next start against the Colorado Rockies. Before exiting, Kelly gave up three earned runs over just four innings of work. For now, fantasy managers should consider Kelly as day-to-day.
Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Merrill Kelly (undisclosed) was forced to leave his outing early on Wednesday at Chase Field against the Texas Rangers with a trainer in the fifth inning. The injury didn't appear to be arm-related for Kelly, but he has dealt with cramping issues in the past. We'll pass along any updates on Kelly's condition when they become available. Before leaving with a trainer, the 35-year-old veteran allowed three earned runs on four hits (one homer) while walking two and striking out three, so it clearly has not been a great day for him. As long as Kelly's exit wasn't actually arm-related, he could make his next scheduled start. Injuries have limited him to only 10 starts in 2024, and he entered his outing on Wednesday with a 4.08 ERA, a 1.23 WHIP and 41 strikeouts in 53 innings pitched. Losing Kelly for an extended period of time could make him unavailable for a potential postseason run.
Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly looked like his old self on Thursday, going seven strong innings in a 3-2 loss to the San Francisco Giants. Kelly allowed just two runs on six hits and struck out eight while walking none. It is great to see a dominant performance like this from the veteran, as he has struggled since coming back in early August from a four-month IL stint. Kelly lines up to face Texas next week in Arizona, a middle-of-the-road matchup that will make him a tough call in standard sized leagues, but this outing makes that choice a little easier.
Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly (shoulder) is officially set to return to the mound on Sunday afternoon to face the Philadelphia Phillies. Kelly has been sidelined since April 15 with a right shoulder strain. Prior to the injury, the 35-year-old held a strong 2.19 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, and a 6:21 BB:K ratio through 24 2/3 innings of work. Last summer, Kelly logged 177 2/3 innings to the tune of a 3.29 ERA and 1.19 WHIP. With Kelly returning, the Diamondbacks now have six starters in their rotation, which means one of them could enter a long relief role. Kelly is worth adding in all leagues as he should provide stable ratios along the way but he is worth fading in DFS in his first game back.
Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said that right-hander Merrill Kelly (shoulder) will "very likely" come off the injured list to start this Sunday in the series finale against the visiting Philadelphia Phillies. All signs have been pointing toward Kelly making his long-awaited return to the starting rotation in the desert this weekend after he was able to throw 62 pitches in four innings in a minor-league rehab start with High-A Hillsboro on Tuesday. The 35-year-old veteran has been out since late April with a teres major strain in his right shoulder. We wouldn't recommend using him in starting fantasy lineups in his first start back against one of the best offenses in baseball on Sunday, but Kelly needs to be rostered in all fantasy leagues. He was 2-0 with a 2.19 ERA and 0.93 WHIP with 21 K's in 24 2/3 innings in his first four starts before injuring his shoulder.
Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said on Thursday that starting pitcher Merrill Kelly (shoulder) will throw a bullpen session on Friday at Chase Field ahead of the series opener against the division-rival Philadelphia Phillies. It appears that Kelly's minor-league rehab assignment has concluded, and the hurler now lines up to potentially return from the injured list for Sunday's series finale against Philadelphia. He allowed three runs in four innings for the High-A Hillsboro Hops on Tuesday, throwing 62 pitches in the outing. The 35-year-old veteran right-hander has been on the injured list since April 23 due to a strained right shoulder, and although he belongs on all rosters in fantasy leagues for the stretch run, he'll carry a bit of risk in his first start back against the first-place Phillies. Over 24 2/3 innings (four starts) for the D-backs this season, Kelly holds a strong 2.19 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, and 21:6 K:BB.
Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly (shoulder) made his minor-league rehab debut on Tuesday, allowing three runs in four innings for the High-A Hillsboro Hops. Kelly went in with a target of 65 pitches, and he was able to reach 62, so he should be relatively stretched out at this point. The 35-year-old veteran right-hander has been on the injured list since April 23 due to a strained right shoulder, but there's a chance that he'll be ready to make his next appearance with the D-backs and won't need to make another start in the minor leagues. Kelly holds a strong 2.19 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, and 21:6 K:BB over 24 2/3 innings (four starts) in the desert this season and belongs on all rosters in fantasy leagues.
Merrill Kelly To Throw Simulated Game On Wednesday
Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Merrill Kelly (shoulder) will throw a three-inning simulated game on Wednesday. Kelly is getting close to making his return to Arizona's starting rotation after suffering a right-shoulder strain that has kept him out since late April. Barring a setback as he continues to stretch out his right arm, the 35-year-old veteran should be back in the desert by mid-August. Fantasy managers should grab Kelly off the waiver wire now if he's available, as he has the potential to be a high-end rotation arm when he's fully healthy. Before hurting his shoulder, he went 2-0 to begin the 2024 campaign with a strong 2.19 ERA and 0.93 WHIP with 21 strikeouts and just six walks in 24 2/3 frames over four starts. Kelly went 12-8 with a 3.29 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and a career-high 187 punchouts in his 30 starts for the Snakes a season ago.
Merrill Kelly
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Diamondbacks
