According to Torey Lovullo, the Diamondbacks’ trio of pitchers currently on the IL—Merrill Kelly, Eduardo Rodriguez, and Jordan Montgomery—all threw successful bullpens at Salt River Fields on Monday.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!None of the three experienced any pain. Lovullo confirmed that Jordan Montgomery, who is on the 15-day IL with right knee inflammation, will be the first to return to the Diamondbacks’ starting rotation.
After Montgomery, Lovullo added that it would be extremely “ambitious” for Merrill Kelly or Eduardo Rodriguez to return to the rotation sometime in July, per Jesse Friedman at PHNX Sports.
Rodriguez has yet to step on the mound for Arizona since signing a four-year deal with the team last December, while Merrill Kelly has been out since April.
Without these two key arms, the Diamondbacks have posted the second-worst team ERA in baseball, ahead of only the Miami Marlins.
On the bright side, they received an excellent start from Yilber Diaz in his Major League debut on Monday against the Braves. Although Atlanta ultimately came back to win, Diaz tossed six innings, allowing just one earned run. Lovullo confirmed after the start that Diaz will remain in the Diamondbacks’ rotation. He is expected to pitch next against the Toronto Blue Jays this weekend.
Stay tuned for further updates.
