Merrill Kelly

RHP Merrill Kelly earned his first win of the season on Thursday when he allowed six runs on nine hits with five strikeouts and one walk in a 11-6 win over the Nationals.

Fantasy Impact

Kelly was hit hard all afternoon by the Nats, allowing four runs in the first inning alone but was able to earn the win as the D-backs pounded Patrick Corbin on the other side. He now owns an 8.44 ERA, 1.69 WHIP, and 10:4 K/BB ratio over 16 innings (three starts) this year. He gets the Reds on the road in his next turn and should be avoided at all costs in that one.

RHP Merrill Kelly took a loss on Thursday when he allowed seven runs (six earned) on nine hits with one strikeout over six innings in the D-Backs 7-3 loss to the Rockies.

Fantasy Impact

The Rockies were all over Kelly from the outset as they put up three runs in the first inning, another run in the second, and three more runs, courtesy of a Dom Nunez HR in the sixth. Kelly has had two difficult starts to begin the season at San Diego and at Coors Field but he should have a better shot at a win when he faces the A's at home in his next turn. Of course, Arizona would need to start scoring some runs for the 32-year-old to even be in line for a victory.

Merrill Kelly took the loss on Friday when he allowed three runs on four hits with three walks and four punchouts over an inefficient four innings in the Diamondbacks 4-2 defeat at the hands of the Padres.

Fantasy Impact

Kelly wasn't very efficient in this outing, needing 94 pitches to get through just four innings of work. The loaded Padres lineup will do that to you, though. He made it through a clean first inning before issuing back-to-back singles and a walk to load the bases in the second. Only one run would come around to score but then he walked two consecutive batters in the third before serving up a two-run homer to Eric Hosmer. The damage would have been greater had Fernando Tatis Jr. not been caught stealing earlier in the frame. Kelly was lucky the Padres didn't take more advantage of his mistakes but they did enough to hand him the loss. It won't get much easier for the 32-year-old RHP as he gets the Rockies on the road in his next turn.

Arizona Diamondbacks starter Merrill Kelly allowed two runs on one hit while striking out five and walking one over two innings in his Cactus League debut on Monday vs. the Brewers.

Fantasy Impact

Kelly ran into some trouble in the first inning as he walked Billy McKinney before serving up a two-run shot to Manny Pina. He did strike out five over his two innings of work, though, and his velocity looked good. His fastball topped out at around 93 mph, which is encouraging as Kelly underwent thoracic outlet surgery last season after a blood clot developed in his pitching shoulder. The 32-year-old was rolling through his first five starts in 2020--although the underlying metrics aren't as kind--as he finished with a 2.59 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, and 29:5 K/BB ratio over 31 1/3 innings. He's a name to remember in the later rounds of fantasy drafts but he doesn't have a lot of upside.

Diamondbacks pitcher Merrill Kelly, who underwent thoracic outlet surgery in August, told reporters on Thursday that he's entering Spring Training with no limitations.

Fantasy Impact

Kelly pitched well for the D-Backs in 2020, posting a 2.59 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, and 29 strikeouts over 31 1/3 innings. The shoulder issue cut his season short in August but Arizona believed in him enough to pick up his option this offseason. He should begin the year in the rotation but is a somewhat risky fantasy option coming off shoulder surgery.