Merrill Kelly's Stats, Metrics, Game Logs, Projections & Rankings

Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Merrill Kelly (shoulder) is scheduled to throw another bullpen session on Tuesday, July 23. Kelly felt something grab in his right shoulder while playing catch in the outfield at Oracle Park on April 20 and landed on the injured list back on April 23. He threw a bullpen session on July 9 and a simulated two-inning bullpen and 32 pitches on July 12. If the 35-year-old veteran avoids a setback on Tuesday, he should be cleared to start facing live hitters before eventually going on a lengthy minor-league rehab assignment. While Kelly is running out of time in the second half of the season to help the D-backs rotation, he deserves to be stashed in all fantasy formats as a high-end starter when healthy. He allowed just six earned runs while striking out 21 and walking six in 24 2/3 innings over four starts early this season before straining his right shoulder.

Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said that right-hander Merrill Kelly (shoulder) and Eduardo Rodriguez (shoulder) will throw bullpen sessions on Saturday. They will probably each throw another bullpen after that before moving to the next step of facing hitters. "They're both feeling really, really good," Lovullo said. Although Kelly has made just four starts in 2024 due to a right-shoulder strain, he's the more attractive fantasy stash of the two injured D-backs hurlers. However, even without setbacks once he starts a minor-league rehab assignment, we might be looking at a late-August return for the 35-year-old veteran hurler. Rodriguez, 31, hasn't pitched at all for the Snakes this year after suffering a left-lat strain back in spring training. While E-Rod can be serviceable as a matchup-based streamer in deep-mixed leagues, his upside isn't as high as Kelly's.

Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Merrill Kelly (shoulder) and left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez (shoulder) will both throw bullpen sessions again on Friday. Kelly and Rodriguez also threw bullpens on Tuesday, with it being Kelly's first time throwing off a mound since going on the injured list in mid-April. The 35-year-old is a top-of-the-rotation arm for the D-backs when healthy and was 2-0 with a nice 2.19 ERA and 0.93 WHIP with 21 K's in 24 2/3 innings over his first four stars in 2024 before getting hurt. Kelly should be stashed in all fantasy leagues, even though he may not rejoin the rotation until mid-August. Rodriguez, 31, injured his shoulder back in spring training and had a setback along the way, which is why he has yet to pitch in his first year in Arizona. E-Rod is eligible to come off the 60-day IL on July 26 and should be back before Kelly, barring another setback.

Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said that starting pitchers Merrill Kelly (shoulder), Eduardo Rodriguez (shoulder) and Jordan Montgomery (knee) will all throw bullpen sessions on Tuesday. Kelly will be throwing off a mound for the first time since suffering a right-shoulder strain in April. The 35-year-old has the most fantasy appeal of the trio but may not be ready to rejoin Arizona's rotation until late August. E-Rod has yet to make his D-backs debut in 2024 after injuring his left shoulder in spring training. Montgomery is dealing with a right-knee injury and is eligible to come off the IL on Sunday. Depending on how he fares in his bullpen session, he could return before next week's All-Star break. However, the 31-year-old has been a disaster after getting a late start to the season.

Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said ahead of Wednesday's game against the division-rival Los Angeles Dodgers that starting pitcher Merrill Kelly (shoulder) is throwing out to 120 feet in his throwing program, and he thinks the hurler will throw on flat ground on Saturday. Recovering from a strained right shoulder, Kelly is making progress in his recovery but will need to resume throwing off a mound before taking a more significant step forward in his progression. It's not yet known if the D-backs will send Kelly out on a minor-league rehab assignment before he re-enters Arizona's rotation, but given that he's been on the shelf for over two months at this point, it's likely he won't jump right back into the major leagues when he's cleared for game action. The 35-year-old veteran right-hander logged a 2.19 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, and 21:6 K:BB over 24 2/3 innings (four starts) before getting injured and is worth stashing in all fantasy leagues.