Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Merrill Kelly will “very likely” make his first start since April on Sunday against the Philadelphia Phillies, according to manager Torey Lovullo.
“He has to throw his bullpen today (at Chase Field),” Lovullo said Burns & Gambo by Arizona Sports on Friday. “I had a good conversation with him about a half hour ago. He feels great, looks great. He has a pitch range of 75-80. … we have to make it official here. We’ll announce it as soon as we can once we know how everything goes today.”
Kelly was on the 60-day injured list with a shoulder strain, but pitched well.
He made an appearance with Single-A Hillsboro on Tuesday, throwing 62 pitches (38 strikes) and allowing three earned runs and six hits in 4.0 innings.
The right-hander had a strong start to the year, giving Arizona three good starts in four games before his injury.
Arizona has managed to stay afloat this year after Kelly went down early and Eduardo Rodriguez, who was also scheduled to start, was injured before the season began. They now have a 14-4 record since the MLB All-Star break, and Rodriguez returns for a starting spot on Wednesday.
Kelly would join a fully healthy D-backs rotation consisting of Rodriguez, Zac Gallen, Brandon Pfaadt and Jordan Montgomery.
For the Diamondbacks, Ryne Nelson and Gallen will start against Philadelphia on Friday and Saturday, respectively, before Kelly could re-enter the rotation on Sunday at Chase Field opposite Christopher Sanchez of the Phillies.
