MERRILL KELLY NEWS

Lowrie, A's rally from 5-run deficit, beat Diamondbacks 7-5

Jed Lowrie hit a tying, three-run homer in the seventh inning, Seth Brown had a solo shot in the next frame and the Oakland Athletics rallied from a five-run deficit to beat the Ar...

APRIL 13, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Struggles in second loss Kelly (0-2) took the loss against the Rockies on Thursday, surrendering seven runs (six earned) on nine hits and no walks with one strikeout across six innings.

Impact It was ugly from the start as Kelly's first five batters reached with hits to give the Rockies an early 3-0 lead. The 32-year-old eventually settled down a bit, retiring 11 consecutive batters, before unraveling once again in the sixth frame by serving up a three-run homer to Dom Nunez. On the bright side, Kelly did not issue any walks and made it through six innings after lasting only four frames in his first start against the Padres. The right-hander will look to bounce back in a home contest Tuesday against Oakland.

APRIL 8, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Gray takes no-hitter into 7th, Rockies beat D-Backs, 7-3

Jon Gray took a no-hit bid into the seventh inning and got his first win of the season, pitching  the Colorado Rockies over the Arizona Diamondbacks 7-3

APRIL 8, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Kelly expected to start for Arizona against Colorado

The Arizona Diamondbacks visit the Colorado Rockies

APRIL 8, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Senzatela sizzling on cool night, Rox beat Diamondbacks 8-0

Antonio Senzatela pitched eight electric innings on a cool evening, Chris Owings had three extra-base hits before leaving with right hamstring tightness, and the Colorado Rockies s...

APRIL 8, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Lasts only four innings Friday Kelly (0-1) took the loss against San Diego on Friday, pitching four innings and allowing three runs on five hits and three walks while striking out four.

Impact Kelly piled up 94 pitches (56 strikes) across his four frames and was charged with the loss after leaving with a three-run deficit. He was stung by a two-run home run off the bat of Eric Hosmer in the third inning and allowed eight total baserunners between the second frame and his departure with no outs in the fifth. Kelly will look to bounce back when he faces Colorado on the road Thursday in his next scheduled start.

APRIL 3, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Hosmer homers again, Snell fans 8 as Padres beat Arizona 4-2

Blake Snell struck out eight before being pulled after 4 2/3 scoreless innings in his Padres debut, and Eric Hosmer homered for the second straight game and drove in three runs as...

APRIL 3, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

LEADING OFF: Nats have 3 positives, no opener Friday

The Nationals and Mets are waiting until at least Saturday to start their season as Washington deals with a COVID-19 outbreak

APRIL 2, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Hosmer, Padres beat Diamondbacks 8-7 in wild opener

Eric Hosmer had a homer among his three hits and drove in three runs, newcomer Victor Caratini also had three RBIs and the San Diego Padres gave up four long balls in the fifth inn...

APRIL 2, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

LEADING OFF: Nats have 3 positives, no opener Friday

The Nationals and Mets are waiting until at least Saturday to start their season as Washington deals with a COVID-19 outbreak

APRIL 1, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Mad Bum gets opener for D-backs; Kluber is Yanks' No. 2

The Arizona Diamondbacks are ready to open the season in familiar fashion: with Mad Bum on the mound

MARCH 29, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

MadBum gets opening day start on mound for Diamondbacks

Madison Bumgarner will make his second straight opening day start for the Arizona Diamondbacks when they travel to face the San Diego Padres on Thursday

MARCH 28, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Pleased despite hard contact Kelly allowed one run on five hits and two walks while striking out three over 4.2 innings in Tuesday's spring game against the Mariners.

Impact Kelly danced around a lot of hard contact as the Mariners hit nine balls at 97 MPH or harder, but he was pleased with his overall stuff, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports. "As far as all four pitches go, that was probably the best I've executed them," Kelly said. "That was the best they've felt coming out of my hand." He was removed from the game in fifth inning and re-entered in the sixth, so that Kelly could simulate getting up and down six times without building his pitch count. The 32-year-old right-hander becomes slightly more important to the Diamondbacks after the team announced Zac Gallen will miss time due to a hairline fracture of the forearm.

MARCH 24, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Padres star Tatis has shoulder problem, to be re-evaluated

The flash and dash of Fernando Tatis Jr. came to a sudden halt Tuesday when the star San Diego Padres shortstop slowly walked off the field after making an awkward throw in an exhi...

MARCH 24, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Hit hard in third outing Kelly allowed six runs (four earned) on eight hits and one walk while striking out one over four innings in Thursday's spring game against the Dodgers.

Impact Kelly's spring ERA ballooned to 9.00 after his third outing against a lineup that looked like Los Angeles' everyday batting order. Despite the poor Cactus League results, Kelly is in no danger of losing his spot in the rotation. If the rotation schedule holds as it is now, Kelly will take the ball for the second game of the season, April 2.

MARCH 19, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Lester pitches 2 innings, returns from gland removal surgery

Jon Lester was back on a mound, wearing a Washington Nationals uniform while facing opposing batters for the first time in spring training and striking out a couple during his two...

MARCH 18, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

D-backs stand pat, ready to show rough 2020 was a fluke

The Arizona Diamondbacks didn't do much to improve their roster after a rough 2020 season

MARCH 17, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Victim of long ball Kelly allowed three runs on four hits and one walk while striking out two over three innings in Sunday's spring game against the Cubs.

Impact Kelly was tagged for a pair of home runs -- solo shot by Willson Contreras in the first inning and a two-run blast by Anthony Rizzo in the third. The issue wasn't throwing strikes -- 31 of his 44 pitches were in the zone -- but rather where some of those strikes landed. Three of the four hits went for extra bases. "Not the best," Kelly told Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic. "I wasn't as sharp as I'd like to be. I kind of felt like I needed to force the ball to the plate more than usual." The one positive takeaway is the curveball, which produced several swings-and-misses.

MARCH 8, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Lesson learned: Padres slugger Tatis can crush fastballs

San Diego shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. smashed a grand slam on Tuesday, providing further proof that the young slugger could be ready for a big third season

MARCH 4, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Velo bounces back Kelly allowed two runs on one hit and one walk while striking out five over two innings in Monday's spring game against the Brewers.

Impact Kelly pitched in a game for the first time since undergoing surgery to correct thoracic outlet syndrome last September and was curious about his velocity. The right-hander was encouraged by what he saw on the video board, which tracks velocity, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports. Kelly, whose fastball averaged 92.1 MPH last season, sat in the low 90s Monday and topped out in the 93-94 range. "From talking to people who have had the procedure I had, some of the feedback from those guys was that it might take a little bit to get back to the velo you were before the surgery," said Kelly. He and manager Torey Lovullo were pleased with the outing.

MARCH 2, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Sigh and Cy: Bieber tagged, Bauer sharp in Dodgers debut

Reigning Cy Young Award winners Shane Bieber and Trevor Bauer got off to different starts in spring training action Monday

MARCH 1, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Diamondbacks pitcher Merrill Kelly shows encouraging velocity in return from surgery Diamondbacks right-hander Merrill Kelly looked like his old self in terms of fastball velocity on Monday afternoon.

MARCH 1, 2021 • AZCENTRAL.COM

Starting Monday Kelly will start Monday's spring game against the Brewers, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.

Impact Kelly follows Zac Gallen in the spring rotation. The right-hander will be making his first game appearance since being shut down after five starts in 2020 due to thoracic outlet syndrome. He was pitching well at the time, having posted a 2.59 ERA and 0.99 WHIP over 31.1 innings.

MARCH 1, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Notes: M. Kelly healthy; Bukauskas in 'pen Merrill Kelly is healthy, and that's obviously a good thing for the right-hander. But it's also big for the D-backs' starting rotation. Kell...

FEBRUARY 18, 2021 • MLB.COM

No limitations to begin spring Kelly doesn't face any limitations to begin spring training, Zach Buchanan of The Athletic reports.

Impact Kelly made five starts for the Diamondbacks in 2020 and posted a 2.59 ERA and 0.99 WHIP over 31.1 innings. However, he was shut down for the final month of the season after he underwent shoulder surgery. His $5.25 million club option was picked up by the Diamondbacks during the offseason, and the right-hander confirmed Thursday that he's fully healthy this spring. If he can continue to perform at a high level, Kelly could reclaim a spot in the starting rotation to begin the regular season.

FEBRUARY 18, 2021 • ROTOWIRE