Merrill Kelly

Fantasy News

• Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Another scoreless start

  Rotowire Jun 10, 2025

  Kelly allowed four hits and two walks while striking out seven over six scoreless innings in a no-decision versus the Mariners on Monday. Kelly logged his third scoreless outing of the season, all of which have come in his last five starts. It hasn't been a stretch of consistency, as he allowed a total of 10 runs (eight earned) over 11 innings in the other two starts in that span. Kelly is still looking like one of the more reliable pitchers in the majors this year with a 3.18 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 79:21 K:BB over 82 innings through 14 starts. The 36-year-old is penciled in for a weekend start at home versus the Padres.

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• Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Rebounds with seven shutout innings

  Rotowire Jun 5, 2025

  Kelly (6-2) earned the win Wednesday against Atlanta after giving up one hit and one walk in seven scoreless innings. He struck out eight. After conceding eight runs over his previous two starts, Kelly bounced back in a big way Wednesday. The veteran right-hander submitted his seventh quality start of the year, and it was the sixth time in his last 11 appearances that he fired at least six frames while yielding two runs or fewer. Kelly sports a 2.55 ERA, 0.84 WHIP and 69:12 K:BB over 67 innings since April 8, and he's next projected to face a Mariners a club with a .654 OPS against right-handed pitching across 29 outings since May 1.

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• Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Early struggles in no-decision

  Rotowire May 31, 2025

  Kelly allowed six runs (four earned) on six hits and two walks while striking out six over five innings in a no-decision versus the Nationals on Friday. Kelly allowed two runs in the first inning and then gave up two home runs in the third. Despite the struggles, he didn't get an early hook, though this was just the third time in 12 starts he's been limited to five innings or fewer. The right-hander now has a 3.78 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 64:18 K:BB through 69 innings this season. Kelly's next start is projected to be in Atlanta, which offers moderate bounce-back potential, though he is sporting a 4.59 ERA over 33.1 innings on the road this season.

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• Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Fades late in no-decision

  Rotowire May 24, 2025

  Kelly came away with a no-decision in Saturday's 6-5 loss to the Cardinals, giving up four runs on six hits and a walk over six-plus innings. He struck out six. The veteran righty was locked in a pitchers' duel with Matthew Liberatore through six frames, but Kelly put the first three batters of the seventh on base with two hits and a walk, and all three came around to score after he'd left the mound. The Diamondbacks struck back for four runs in the top of the eighth to take him off the hook for the loss, however. Kelly was sharp prior to the late fade, racking up 31 called or swinging strikes among his 100 pitches (66 total strikes), and he'll take a 3.52 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 58:16 K:BB through 64 innings into his next start, which lines up to come at home next weekend against the Nationals.

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• Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Dazzles in win

  Rotowire May 18, 2025

  Kelly (5-2) picked up the win Sunday against Colorado, allowing one hit and three walks with 11 strikeouts over seven scoreless innings. Kelly dominated the Rockies, tossing his first scoreless start of 2025 and setting season-best marks in hits allowed and strikeouts. The 36-year-old has been stellar this year outside of a blowup start against the Yankees on April 3, owning a 1.99 ERA and a 50:12 K:BB over 54.1 innings in his other appearances. He's expected to take the mound again next weekend during a road series against the Cardinals.

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• Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Solid in loss

  Rotowire May 7, 2025

  Kelly (3-2) took the loss Wednesday against the Mets, allowing three runs on six hits over 6.1 innings. He struck out six. After leaving his last start early with a hamstring cramp, Kelly certainly appeared healthy Wednesday as he held the Mets scoreless on just two hits through his first five innings. However, the right-hander would give up a homer to Juan Soto in the sixth before New York tacked on two more runs in the seventh. The loss is Kelly's first since April 3 -- he hadn't allowed more than two runs in his previous four starts coming into Wednesday. Kelly's ERA now sits at 4.09 through his first 44 innings this year with a 1.05 WHIP and 33:12 K:BB. He's currently lined up to face the Giants on the road in his next outing.

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• Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Ready to start Wednesday

  Rotowire May 5, 2025

  Kelly (hamstring) is listed as the Diamondbacks' probable starter or Wednesday's game against the Mets in Arizona. The Diamondbacks are already having Corbin Burnes (shoulder) skip his start during the three-game series versus the Mets, but the team won't have to make any further additions to the rotation with Kelly having bounced back well since exiting his most recent outing Friday in Philadelphia due to right hamstring cramping. He's now experienced leg cramps in two of his last three starts, but Kelly has pitched effectively in each of those occasions. He'll enter Wednesday's contest with a 4.06 ERA and 1.06 WHIP over 37.2 innings on the season.

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• Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Gives up two homers in no-decision

  Rotowire Apr 26, 2025

  Kelly allowed two runs on four hits and a walk while striking out four over six innings in a no-decision versus Atlanta on Saturday. Kelly gave up solo shots to Marcell Ozuna in the first inning and Sean Murphy in the second. He settled in after that and left in line for the win before Jalen Beeks blew the lead by allowing three runs in the eighth. This was Kelly's third quality start of the season, and he came up just one out short of that achievement in his previous outing, which was cut short by a minor leg injury. The right-hander is now at a 4.41 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 25:12 K:BB across 32.2 innings over six starts this season. The walk rate is a little elevated, but nothing is too far out of line with his career norms. Kelly's next start is projected to be at Philadelphia.

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• Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Fans nine in win

  Rotowire Apr 15, 2025

  Kelly (3-1) allowed a run on three hits and a walk over six innings Tuesday, striking out nine and earning a win over the Marlins. Kelly cruised to an easy win while his offense posted a double-digit scoring performance. The lone run against him was an RBI groundout from Liam Hicks in the second inning. Kelly forced a season-high 13 whiffs after generating just 19 total in his first three starts. He still owns an unsightly 5.57 ERA, but that was mostly due to his nine-run blow-up start against the Yankees on April 3. Kelly is currently projected for a road matchup against the Cubs this weekend.

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• Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Rallies for second win

  Rotowire Apr 9, 2025

  Kelly (2-1) picked up the win in Tuesday's 4-3 victory over the Orioles, allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits and two walks over six-plus innings. He struck out four. The veteran right-hander was tagged for a pair of runs in the first inning, an ominous sign after Kelly got ambushed by the Yankees his last time out, but he steadied the ship after that and produced his first quality start of the season on 89 pitches (61 strikes). Kelly's 7.20 ERA still shows the scars of that trip to the Bronx, and his 7:9 K:BB in 15 innings hasn't been fantasy-friendly, but he may be trending in the right direction. He's scheduled to make his next start on the road early next week in Miami.

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• Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Demolished by Yankees in loss

  Rotowire Apr 3, 2025

  Kelly (1-1) took the loss after allowing nine runs on nine hits and three walks in 3.2 innings Thursday against the Yankees. He struck out two. Thursday's showing was ugly from the get-go for Kelly, who served up a three-run home run to Aaron Judge in the first inning before recording a single out. Trent Grisham added an RBI double in the opening frame and also belted a two-run shot in the third inning, with Kelly's night finally coming to a merciful end after a Jazz Chisholm two-run homer in the fourth. Kelly will look to put this disastrous performance in the rear-view mirror in his next scheduled start, which lines up for early next week at home against the Orioles.

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• Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Picks up win despite shaky control

  Rotowire Mar 29, 2025

  Kelly (1-0) recorded the win in Friday's 8-1 rout of the Cubs, allowing one run on three hits and four walks over 5.1 innings. He struck out one. It was far from a dominant outing for the 36-year-old righty to kick off the season, but Kelly minimized the damage from his free passes and got more than enough offensive support. He left the mound after 85 pitches (51 strikes). Kelly will likely need to be sharper in his next trip to the mound, which is scheduled to come on the road next week against the Yankees.

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• Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Scoreless spring outing

  Rotowire Mar 12, 2025

  Kelly allowed five hits while striking out one over 3.1 scoreless innings in Tuesday's spring start against the Royals. Kelly threw 48 pitches in his third Cactus League start, the same number of pitches he threw the last time out, March 7, against the Mariners. He navigated first-inning trouble with the help of his defense; a baserunner was caught attempting to steal and a second one was picked off by Kelly, the third time he's picked off a runner this spring. After three spring outings, Kelly has a 2.35 ERA over 7.2 innings.

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• Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Dealing with calf cramp

  Rotowire Sep 21, 2024

  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

  Rotowire Sep 21, 2024

  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

  Rotowire Sep 17, 2024

  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 Sep 15, 2024

  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

  Rotowire Sep 14, 2024

  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.

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• Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Managing hamstring cramps

  Rotowire Sep 11, 2024

  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 Sep 11, 2024

  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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