Diamondbacks starter Merrill Kelly will be the first pitcher to face the Dodgers in the NLDS.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Merrill-y we roll along.#EmbraceTheChaos pic.twitter.com/KShdQaRAPH
— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) October 5, 2023
He is the 3rd rotation guy after Brandon Pfaadt and Zac Gallen took the Wild Card series. He will be facing Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw.Â
Kelly finished the regular season with 177.2 innings, a 12-8 record, a 3.29 ERA, and 187 strikeouts. He was dominant all season for the D’backs, and they were able to save him for the NLDS.Â
Kelly faced the Dodgers three times this year. The first was in early April. He allowed four runs in 5.2 innings. The second was much better. On August 9th at home, he went six innings, allowed no earned runs, and had two strikeouts. The third wasn’t as perfect. He went five innings, gave up 12 hits and seven runs, and only struck out 1.Â
Kershaw, on the other hand, finished the year with 131.2 innings, a 2.46 ERA, 13 wins, and 137 strikeouts.Â
Kershaw Day for NLDS Game 1. pic.twitter.com/ep7Dhp4udM
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 5, 2023
He only faced the Diamondbacks one time, and that was on August 29th. He allowed one earned run in five innings pitched, had five strikeouts, and earned the win in a blowout on the night Kelly allowed those seven runs.Â
History does not side with the Diamondbacks. However, there is a debate about whether a first-round bye hurts or helps the team that gets it. So, we will find that out this weekend. Game 1 will be on Saturday at 6:20 p.m. PT.Â
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