Diamondbacks’ Merrill Kelly exits with hamstring cramping vs. Rangers

PHOENIX — Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly walked off the mound with right hamstring cramping during the fifth inning of Wednesday’s 14-4 win over the Texas Rangers at Chase Field.

Kelly trudged around the mound, shaking out his right leg before heading for the dugout with athletic trainer Max Esposito.

The veteran paced in the dugout as reliever Slade Cecconi warmed up with Arizona holding an 8-2 lead with no outs in the fifth frame.

Kelly dealt with right hamstring cramping around this time last season while pitching at Chase Field that ended three straight home starts early. The issue is not expected to impact his upcoming start, even in high-elevation Colorado next week against the Rockies.

“Once I heard it was cramping, it was a no-brainer for me, I decided to remove him from the game,” manager Torey Lovullo said. “It’s one of those things that pops up from time to time with our athletes. But it’s in no way, in my opinion, going to hinder him in five days from now. I think he’s going to make his turn.”

Kelly was frustrated this happened again, a “beating your head against the wall” feeling. The club managed this issue last season by diving into hydration and nutrition strategies, and Kelly said his routine has not changed from what had been working.

“It seems like it’s good for a little while, and then all of a sudden, it’ll tag me out of nowhere,” Kelly said. “I didn’t feel anything today before that pitch warming up or the innings prior, no signs, no symptoms of it. All of a sudden I throw that pitch and next thing you know I’m out of the game.”

The announced temperature at first pitch was 78 degrees.

Lovullo said it is warmer on the field level but Wednesday did not feel particularly uncomfortable. Kelly said the temperature was hard to gauge since he has been injured for most of this season, but he sweats a lot and went through one jersey change already.

Kelly said it was particularly frustrating since he felt strong on the mound.

Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo with an update on starter Merrill Kelly, who was removed in the fifth inning against the Rangers on Wednesday due to “cramping.” pic.twitter.com/Mm5HWN6S92

— Arizona Sports (@AZSports) September 11, 2024

How did Merrill Kelly pitch before leaving with an injury?

Wednesday was Kelly’s sixth start back from the 60-day injured list, as he missed more than three months with a teres major strain.

He threw four innings with two earned runs on four hits entering the fifth, which he started with a lead-off walk to Leody Taveras. He threw three pitches to Marcus Semien before the injury delay.

Kelly only allowed one hit through the first three innings, a Semien solo home run.

“I feel like my rhythm and timing is starting to come back,” Kelly said. “The ball’s coming out of my hand a lot better. The (velocity is) back to somewhat normal, kind of pre-injury stuff. Ball had life on it. Curveball was good, slider was good, cutter was good, pretty much everything. I think, going back to the 12-strikeout game, I think that’s one of the more frustrating parts is when I’m going well and I feel good, and then it kind of just stops in my tracks.”

Kelly left two starts last season early after he struck out 12 batters.

In his last start, Kelly threw seven frames with two earned runs against the San Francisco Giants as he continues to regain his feel.

Lovullo has said he wants Zac Gallen and Kelly to pace the pitching staff down the stretch. Wednesday’s blowout win did not highlight Kelly’s absence as much as a tighter game would, and in a pennant chase, losing Kelly innings at home could make a difference.

“I’m not going to downplay and say no, there’s zero concern. Of course there is, but I know we’re doing all we can,” Lovullo said. “I don’t want to say I’m snapping the ball on, ‘Oh, the Merrill situation is happening again.’ We got to figure out how to make it not happen again.”

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