Merrill Kelly Struggles Through Rough Chase Field Outing

Diamondbacks pitcher Merrill Kelly had a tough exhibition start against the Cleveland Guardians, but remains focused on getting healthy for the season.

Mar. 24, 2026 at 4:49am

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Merrill Kelly, the Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher, struggled in an exhibition game against the Cleveland Guardians on Monday night. Kelly faced 12 batters, recording just six outs, and gave up four runs on four hits, including two home runs. Despite the rough outing, Kelly remained unconcerned, stating that the most important thing was that his arm and back felt good as he continues to work his way back from an injury.

Why it matters

Kelly's struggles in the exhibition game are a concern for the Diamondbacks, as he is slated to begin the season on the 15-day injured list due to an intercostal nerve issue in his back. The team is hoping Kelly can return to the rotation sometime during their early-season series against the Mets, but his performance and recovery will be closely monitored.

The details

Kelly gave up back-to-back home runs in the first inning to Chase DeLauter and Jose Ramirez. He was able to strand a single in the second inning, but in the third inning he walked the first two batters and then gave up a single to Ramirez, allowing all three runs to score. Kelly's final line was 2 IP, 4 H, 5 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 2 HR. His velocity also dropped notably, from 92.9 MPH on his four-seam fastball in the first inning to 90.9 MPH by the third inning.

  • Kelly faced 12 batters and recorded six outs on Monday night.
  • Kelly's next outing will be on a backfield at Salt River Fields on Saturday, March 28, with the goal of getting to a fourth inning.
  • Kelly will then have a rehab start with the Triple-A Reno Aces on April 3 in Albuquerque against the Isotopes.
  • That would put Kelly in line to be eligible to come off the IL by April 8, or sometime during the Mets series.

The players

Merrill Kelly

A pitcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks who is currently working his way back from an injury and is slated to begin the season on the 15-day injured list.

Chase DeLauter

A player for the Cleveland Guardians who hit a home run off of Merrill Kelly in the first inning.

Jose Ramirez

A player for the Cleveland Guardians who hit a home run off of Merrill Kelly in the first inning and also had a single that drove in three runs in the third inning.

Torey Lovullo

The manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks, who expressed relief that the team got through the game without any injuries.

Slade Cecconi

A pitcher for the Cleveland Guardians who shut out the Diamondbacks' starting lineup.

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What they’re saying

“Body feels good, that's what really matters. Timing and, mechanically-wise, I'm still building up, so there's definitely still some work to do there. But what's most important, obviously, is that my arm feels good, my back feels good, so I'm moving in the right direction.”

— Merrill Kelly

“At this point in the spring, I think the guys are looking forward to this season. I don't think we should really ever overlook any game. I don't think that was the case today. It was nice getting in our uniforms, playing in our home ballpark, and get one day closer to the start of the season.”

— Torey Lovullo, Manager

What’s next

Kelly's next outing will be on a backfield at Salt River Fields on Saturday, March 28, with the goal of getting to a fourth inning. Then he'll have a rehab start with the Triple-A Reno Aces on April 3 in Albuquerque against the Isotopes.

The takeaway

While Merrill Kelly struggled in his exhibition start, the most important thing for the Diamondbacks is that he came through the outing without any setbacks to his back or arm. The team remains focused on getting Kelly healthy and ready to contribute to the rotation once the regular season begins.