Merrill Kelly’s early struggles spark concern among Diamondbacks fans

Kelly, a key piece of Arizona’s rotation over the last several seasons, opened the year on the IL after sustaining left intercostal nerve irritation during spring training. It delayed his season debut, and since rejoining the rotation, the right-hander has struggled to limit damage during his outings.

In his first three starts, he has accumulated a 9.20 ERA and recently gave up five earned runs through five innings against the Milwaukee Brewers on April 28. These performances have raised early questions about the durability from the team’s mainstay.

Kelly has struggled to command his fastball and secondary pitches, leading to high pitch counts and shorter outings. He has also allowed hard contact at a higher rate than usual, a notable difference for a pitcher who is known for painting the strike zone rather than relying on velocity.

Timing is critical. Arizona’s starting rotation has been up and down in terms of performance. While some starters have been efficient, others have struggled to maintain consistency. Kelly was expected to be a stabilizing force coming off the IL, but he has yet to provide that.

At 37, Kelly is among the older starters in the league, and recovery from early-season injuries can be unpredictable. Maintaining effectiveness deep into the season will be critical for a team that wants to remain competitive in its division.

Fans will be watching closely to see how Kelly responds to this early stretch and whether he can rediscover the command that has made him one of the Diamondbacks’ reliable arms — and how quickly that turnaround might come.