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.

-Merrill Kelly first got a back MRI 2/24, official IL injury was “left intercostal nerve irritation”
-Merrill barely missed any time, appearing in a ST game 3/13

It’s extremely concerning that Kelly has been throwing for 2 months now post injury and still isn’t close to right…

— Goldschmidt Happened (@GoldyHappens) April 29, 2026

Signing a aging Merrill Kelly wasn’t gonna backfire on us lmao https://t.co/Ju7xkKa5xO

— Alex (@cornb0y48) April 29, 2026

What happend to Merrill Kelly man? 😔

— rhino_ (@ryneasauras) April 29, 2026

Milwaukee Brewers right fielder Sal Frelick (10) hits a solo home run off of Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Merrill Kelly (29) during the second inning of their game Thursday, April 28, 2026 at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

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.

Apr 21, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Merrill Kelly reacts in the first inning against the Chicago White Sox at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

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.