Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Merrill Kelly is expected to return from the injured list on Sunday against the Philadelphia Phillies, becoming the second key starting pitcher to return to the team in as many rotations.
Kelly, who has been on the injured list since April 23 with a right shoulder injury, threw four innings in a rehab start for High-A Hillsboro on Tuesday, allowing three runs on six hits. He didn’t walk a batter and struck out two players on 62 pitches.
“The reports were really good,” manager Torey Lovullo said. “Did exactly what we wanted him to do.”
Lovullo didn’t go so far as to say definitively that Kelly will pitch on Sunday – the Diamondbacks starter is officially listed as TBA – but he suggested Kelly could increase his pitching rate to 75-80 in his next appearance, telling reporters, “Guys, you can read between the lines.”
“You get to a certain number of pitches — I told you, if it goes beyond three innings (in rehab starts), it gets serious,” Lovullo said. “We like it to get into the 80-pitch range. We throw down when we’ve been in that situation before. So stay tuned.”
Kelly made four starts before being sidelined, posting a 2.19 ERA in 24 2/3 innings. As the club’s No. 2 starter last year behind Zac Gallen, he has posted a 3.26 ERA in 402 2/3 innings since the start of the 2022 season, the 10th-best mark in the major leagues during that span among pitchers with at least 400 innings.
On Wednesday, the Diamondbacks welcomed left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez back from the injured list in Cleveland, where he allowed three runs in 5 2/3 innings in a win over the Guardians.
Pitching duel between the Diamondbacks and the Phillies on Friday
Phillies at Diamondbacks, 6:40 p.m., Cox, Chapter 34
Diamondbacks RHP Ryne Nelson (8-6, 4.65) vs. Phillies RHP Zack Wheeler (11-5, 2.77)
At Chase Field: Nelson allowed four runs in five innings against the Pirates on Sunday, in a game he faced RHP Paul Skenes that the Diamondbacks won 6-5. … It wasn’t Nelson’s best performance, but he has been pretty reliable for most of the last six weeks, posting a 3.51 ERA in his last 10 games. … He hasn’t played against the Phillies this season, but he saw them twice last year, allowing six runs in 10 innings with two walks and nine strikeouts. 2B Bryson Stott hit a home run against him at Chase Field last year. … Wheeler has been one of the better starters in the National League again and appears to be one of the leading contenders for the NL Cy Young Award. … He just turned in one of his best starts of the year, going eight scoreless innings against the Mariners in Seattle. He allowed two hits, walked one and struck out nine strikeouts. … He previously got hit hard in the start, allowing seven runs in five innings against the Yankees. … He shut down the Diamondbacks in June, allowing one run in seven innings at Citizens Bank Park. He also pitched well against them in the NLCS last October, allowing three runs in 14 2/3 innings with two walks and 17 strikeouts.
Soon
Saturday: At Chase Field, 5:10 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Zac Gallen (9-5, 3.75) vs. Phillies RHP Aaron Nola (11-5, 3.54)
Sunday: At Chase Field, 1:10 p.m., Diamondbacks TBA vs. Phillies LHP Cristopher Sanchez (8-7, 3.27).
Monday: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks TBA vs. Rockies TBA.
