Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly looks to build on his strong start to the year when he takes the hill against the division-rival Colorado Rockies and right-hander Cal Quantrill in Tuesday's road start. After giving up eight runs in 12 frames of spring ball, Kelly has sharpened up to allow just three runs in 13 2/3 innings with a 12:1 K:BB across his first two appearances of the regular season. The 35-year-old soft-tossing right-hander has plenty of experience with Colorado in his career, and fantasy managers may be weary of starting him due to the unfavorable ballpark factor. Over his last three starts at Coors Field since 2022, however, Kelly is 2-0 with a 1.89 ERA and 19 strikeouts across 19 innings. Season-long fantasy managers should feel fine starting Kelly against the Rocks, and the righty holds some contrarian DFS appeal in a shy-away spot on paper.

Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Merrill Kelly will look to keep up the excellent work at home when he takes on the visiting Colorado Rockies on Friday. Kelly has long pitched much better at Chase Field than anywhere else as he sports a 3.17 ERA alongside a 24.3% K% in his career at home versus a 4.48 ERA and 19.6% K% on the road. However, his dominance at home increased in the 2023 season when he pitched to a 2.59 ERA and a 29% K% in 93 2/3 frames at Chase Field. The 35-year-old is an excellent fantasy option on Friday against a Rockies team that ranked 29th with a .285 wOBA on the road and also dead last with a 27.3% K% outside of Coors Field.

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly continued his stellar spring during Monday's game against the Oakland Athletics. The right-hander threw 3 1/3 scoreless innings while allowing four hits and striking out seven batters. The 35-year-old hasn't allowed a run in two of his first three outings this spring. The hope is that these outings carry over into the regular season. Kelly should continue to climb up draft boards if he keeps pitching like he has lately.

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly gave up two runs on five hits in three innings during his second appearance of spring training on Wednesday, striking out four batters in a 7-5 Cactus League loss to the division-rival Colorado Rockies. Kelly is still off to a fine start this spring, despite Wednesday's mixed bag, turning in a 3.60 ERA and 1.00 WHIP with seven punchouts over five frames in two showings. The 35-year-old right-hander was a workhorse for the D-backs in 2023, tossing 177 2/3 innings (30 starts) for a rock-solid 3.29 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, and 187:69 K:BB. Although he doesn't carry particularly high upside, Kelly is a relatively safe fantasy bet at his 148.7 Yahoo ADP this spring and will face these same Rockies during Arizona's first series of the regular season in late March.

Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Zac Gallen is scheduled to make his first spring Cactus League start on March 1 against the Cincinnati Reds, while right-hander Merrill Kelly will make his first start on March 8 against the Chicago Cubs. Including the playoffs, Gallen and Kelly threw 243 2/3 and 201 2/3 innings, respectively, in 2023. Kelly took some time off in the offseason before getting back to his training regiment that included range-of-motion exercises, according to manager Torey Lovullo. Because of the big workloads in their run to the World Series last year, the D-backs will make sure to take it easy on both pitchers this spring. Gallen is a low-end No. 1 fantasy starter, while Kelly profiles as more of a No. 4 to round out your fantasy rotation.

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly threw seven innings of one-run baseball during Game 2 of the World Series Saturday night. He gave up three hits with zero walks while striking out nine on the night. A solo home run by Mitch Garver in the fifth inning was the lone blemish for Kelly. The 35-year-old now has a 2.25 ERA in the postseason over four starts. He had 28 strikeouts over 24 innings. Kelly had just 89 pitches on the night, 63 for strikes, so he should be well-rested for his next appearance, which should come in Texas at week's end.

Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Merrill Kelly faced the daunting task of trying to slow down the red-hot Philadelphia Phillies offense in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series on Tuesday night on the road in an extremely hostile environment. Kelly ended up taking the loss after allowing four earned runs on three hits (all home runs) while walking three and striking out six in 5 2/3 innings. The long ball killed the 35-year-old in this one, beginning with Trea Turner's solo shot in the first inning. The Phillies never looked back from there. It wasn't a terrible outing by any means, though, and Kelly has been pretty decent in his two playoff starts this year, posting a 3.00 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 11 strikeouts in 12 innings. The D-backs are going to have to make a comeback in the series if Kelly wants to pitch again in 2023.

Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Merrill Kelly faces a daunting task going up against the Phillies in Philadelphia in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series on Tuesday night, as the Phillies have gone 5-0 so far at home this postseason. Kelly was shelled against the Mets on the road on Sept. 14, but ever since then he's been great, allowing just four runs in four games, including shutting out the Dodgers in Game 1 of the NLDS for 6 1/3 innings on the road. In the last two seasons, Kelly has a 3.33 ERA over 63 starts. The 35-year-old veteran faced the Phils just once in the regular season at home in the desert on June 14 and picked up a no-decision, allowing three earned runs in six innings while walking four and striking out seven. He gave up just one homer in that start.

Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Merrill Kelly will start Game 2 of the National League Championship Series in Philadelphia against the Phillies on Tuesday, according to manager Torey Lovullo. In his first-ever postseason appearance in Game 1 of the Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Kelly stepped up in a big way, tossing 6 1/3 innings of shutout baseball while allowing only three hits, walking two and striking out five for the win. The 34-year-old will have an extremely tough task ahead of him against a red-hot Phillies offense in one of the toughest ballparks to pitch at. Kelly pitched at home against the Phils back on June 14 and took a no-decision while allowing three earned runs while walking four and striking out seven in six innings.

Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Merrill Kelly will get the start for Game 1 of the National League Division Series against the division-rival Los Angeles Dodgers on the road on Saturday. Kelly wasn't needed in the team's two-game sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers in the wild-card series. The 34-year-old is rolling coming into his first postseason start this year, allowing just four earned runs while walking seven and striking out 15 in 18 2/3 innings in his final three starts of the regular season against the Giants, Yankees and Astros. Kelly faced the Dodgers four times in 2023, going 0-2 with a 3.98 ERA 1.97 WHIP, 13 walks and 11 strikeouts in 20 1/3 innings. It's a shy-away matchup for DFS gamers, especially since Kelly was much better at home than on the road this year.

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly is in line to start Game 3 of the wild-card series on Thursday on the road against the Brewers if it is needed. His potential opposing starter has not yet been named. The veteran compiled his second consecutive strong season, going 12-8 with a 3.29 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, and 25.9% strikeout rate in 30 starts over 177 2/3 innings pitched. Kelly faced the Brewers twice during the regular season, allowing four runs in 13 IP with 14 strikeouts and five walks.

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly (leg) turned in another great start but was also stopped short again in Monday's 4-2 win over the Rockies. Kelly earned his 11th win of the season, allowing one run on four hits and a walk with 12 strikeouts over seven innings pitched. However, it was the third time in the past month that Kelly has had to exit a start due to cramping. The 34-year-old has still pitched very well despite this and now owns a 3.22 ERA and a 9.65 K/9 rate in 25 starts on the season. Fantasy managers should keep an eye out for any further news related to his health and next start, but he is currently lined up for a tough matchup at the Cubs.

Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Merrill Kelly (hamstring) is scheduled to make his next start on Tuesday against the division-rival Los Angeles Dodgers. Kelly won't have to miss a turn in the starting rotation after he left his most recent start with cramping in his right hamstring. The 34-year-old has been having an excellent season, but he'll be facing a dangerous Dodgers lineup this week. Despite dealing with cramping last week against the Cincinnati Reds, Kelly still managed to go seven scoreless innings while striking out a career-high 12 batters. In 23 starts over 136 1/3 innings so far in 2023, he's gone 10-5 with a 2.97 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 146 strikeouts. Fantasy managers in DFS will probably be fading him against the Dodgers on Tuesday, though.

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly left his start on Thursday with a trainer while warming up for the eighth inning. Kelly was apparently experiencing cramping in his right hamstring and the D-backs wanted to be cautious with the righty. The situation doesn't sound serious, and Kelly will likely be able to make his next start. As for this start, Kelly dominated once again, throwing seven scoreless frames while allowing just one hit with a 12:1 K:BB ratio. The 34-year-old is having the best season of his career and is in the midst of the best stretch of starts in his career as well. He is looking like a potential league-winner if he can keep it up.

Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Merrill Kelly (hamstring) suffered a right-hamstring cramp during his start on Thursday night against the Cincinnati Reds, but it doesn't sound like a serious concern going forward. Before leaving before the eighth inning, Kelly was fantastic, tossing seven scoreless innings while giving up just one hit, walking none and striking out 12 to lower his season ERA to 2.97 in the no-decision. The 34-year-old also dealt with cramping in his calf in his previous start, but he should be fine to make his next start for the Snakes. Kelly is a big reason why the D-backs are in position to potentially earn a wild-card spot in the National League postseason this year, and he should be included in starting fantasy lineups if he makes his next start.

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly took a tough no-decision in Monday's 6-4 loss to the Rockies. After exiting his last start early with a leg cramp, Kelly pitched six innings in this start, allowing two runs on five hits (including two solo home runs) and a walk with 11 strikeouts. The 34-year-old has had another successful season, going 9-5 with a 3.05 ERA and a 9.51 K/9 rate. His next start is slated to be a middling one at the rival Padres. At this point, Kelly has proven to be essentially a must-start pitcher for fantasy managers.

Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Merrill Kelly (leg) left his start early on Wednesday against the Los Angeles Dodgers with a right-leg cramp. Normally a leg cramp wouldn't be considered very serious, but Kelly just missed a month with a blood clot in his right calf. If this injury is related at all, it could send the 34-year-old starter back to the injured list. The good news is Kelly was strong in a no-decision before departing, tossing six shutout innings while allowing six hits, walking two and striking out two to drop his season ERA to 3.05. Hopefully his leg cramp turns out to be nothing significant and he's able to make his next start in a great matchup next Monday against the last-place Colorado Rockies.

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly (calf) will come off the injured list on Tuesday and start the contest against Steven Matz and the St. Louis Cardinals, according to MLB.com. The 34-year-old missed about a month of action after suffering from a blood clot in his right calf. Before the issue, Kelly was phenomenal, posting a 3.22 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and 25.7% strikeout rate with a 9-4 record over 16 starts. Fantasy managers should be excited to get the right-hander back and start him in all formats.

Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Merrill Kelly (calf) will throw a 75-pitch simulated game on Saturday in Arizona. If all goes well, Kelly could return to the team's starting rotation in five or 10 days. Kelly developed a blood clot in his right calf and has been out since late June, but the injury wasn't considered serious and he's getting closer to returning from the injured list. The 34-year-old might not even need a minor-league rehab assignment before returning to the D-backs. Kelly could be due some regression in the second half, but to this point he's had a career year, going 9-4 with a 3.22 ERA (3.85 FIP), 1.14 WHIP, 37 walks and 98 strikeouts in 95 innings pitched over 16 starts.

Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Merrill Kelly (calf) threw a 45-pitch bullpen session on Thursday in which he simulated three innings of work, according to manager Torey Lovullo. It was another encouraging step as Kelly works his way back from a blood clot in his leg. He's scheduled to undergo a follow-up ultrasound exam to make sure the clot is no longer an issue. The 34-year-old isn't eligible to return from the 15-day injured list until during the All-Star break. The D-backs open the second half of the season with a road trip that starts in Toronto next Friday before heading to Atlanta and Cincinnati, and Lovullo suggested he might prefer to see Kelly return in Atlanta so that he can make a minor-league rehab start first.