Menu

Post image 1
Post image 2
Post image 3
1 / 3
0

The Reason D-backs' Merrill Kelly is Struggling is Painfully Simple

Arizona Diamondbacks On SI·Alex D'Agostino·about 1 month ago
#5iXQG3or
Reading 0:00
15s threshold

Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Merrill Kelly has simply not looked like himself in his first three starts of 2026, since coming off the injured list. Kelly, after his first three turns through the rotation, owns a 9.20 ERA. He's given up eight and five runs respectively in his previous two starts — 13 in his last 9.1 innings. But the problem isn't his velocity, which has always sat on the lower end of the 90s. Nor is it his raw stuff, which appears to be moving properly and holding its usual shape. The harsh truth is very simple: Kelly is not throwing enough consistent strikes, and it's costing him batters. Kelly has walked 12 in his first 14.2 innings of 2026. He's landed a mere 55% of his pitches for strikes in the process. That is not what Kelly has staked his underrated career on in Arizona.…

Continue reading — create a free account

Join HashtagPLUS to read full articles, follow hashtags, vote, and join the conversation.

Read More