Right-hander Merrill Kelly said tests on his tight back revealed no structural damage, but the injury will take Kelly out of consideration to make his first career Opening Day start, both he and Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said.
Lovullo said he is still weighing his options for who will start in Kelly’s place. He said right-hander Zac Gallen could be an option, though Lovullo sounded unsure if Gallen would be built up enough to get through five or six innings and 100 pitches. That would leave right-hander Ryne Nelson as the most likely candidate.
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It is unclear how long Kelly will be out. Lovullo, who said the injury is being called “intercostal nerve irritation,” did not offer a timeline, nor did he rule out the idea of Kelly avoiding the injured list to open the season. Kelly seemed to hold out hope for that possibility, as well.
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Top photos from Arizona Diamondbacks’ 2026 spring training
Arizona Diamondbacks Jordan Lawlar catches a fly ball during spring training workouts at Salt River Fields on Feb. 13, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Top photos from Arizona Diamondbacks’ 2026 spring training
Arizona Diamondbacks Jordan Lawlar catches a fly ball during spring training workouts at Salt River Fields on Feb. 13, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Top photos from Arizona Diamondbacks’ 2026 spring training
Arizona Diamondbacks’ Nolan Arenado (28) rounds the bases after hitting a home run off Colorado Rockies pitcher Antonio Senzatela (49) in the second inning during a spring training game at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Arizona Diamondbacks’ Gabriel Moreno (14) bats against the Colorado Rockies in the fourth inning during a spring training game at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Top photos from Arizona Diamondbacks’ 2026 spring training
Arizona Diamondbacks’ Alek Thomas (5) runs to second base after hitting a double against the Colorado Rockies in the second inning during a spring training game at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Top photos from Arizona Diamondbacks’ 2026 spring training
D. Baxter the Bobcat, the Arizona Diamondbacks mascot, signs autographs during the spring training season opener against the Colorado Rockies at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Top photos from Arizona Diamondbacks’ 2026 spring training
Arizona Diamondbacks’ Nolan Arenado (28) reacts after hitting a home run off Colorado Rockies pitcher Antonio Senzatela (49) in the second inning during a spring training game at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Top photos from Arizona Diamondbacks’ 2026 spring training
The Arizona Diamondbacks take the field against the Colorado Rockies during the spring training season opener at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Top photos from Arizona Diamondbacks’ 2026 spring training
Arizona Diamondbacks’ Nolan Arenado (28) hits a home run over Colorado Rockies left fielder Zac Veen (13) in the second inning during a spring training game at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Top photos from Arizona Diamondbacks’ 2026 spring training
The Salt River Pima – Maricopa Indian Community traditional dancers perform at the Arizona Diamondbacks spring training season opener at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Top photos from Arizona Diamondbacks’ 2026 spring training
Arizona Diamondbacks’ Nolan Arenado (28) hits a home run off Colorado Rockies pitcher Antonio Senzatela (49) in the second inning during a spring training game at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Top photos from Arizona Diamondbacks’ 2026 spring training
Arizona Diamondbacks’ Nolan Arenado (28) hits a home run off Colorado Rockies pitcher Antonio Senzatela (49) in the second inning during a spring training game at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Top photos from Arizona Diamondbacks’ 2026 spring training
A fan and her dog cheer for the Arizona Diamondbacks during the spring training season opener against the Colorado Rockies at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Top photos from Arizona Diamondbacks’ 2026 spring training
Arizona Diamondbacks center fielder Alek Thomas (5) signs autographs during the spring training season opener against the Colorado Rockies at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Colorado Rockies pitcher Juan Mejia (47) throws to the Arizona Diamondbacks in the third inning during a spring training game at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Fans watch the action on the left field lawn as the Colorado Rockies host the Arizona Diamondbacks during a spring training game at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Andrew Hoffmann (56) throws to the Colorado Rockies in the second inning during a spring training game at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Top photos from Arizona Diamondbacks’ 2026 spring training
Arizona Diamondbacks’ Nolan Arenado (28) reacts after hitting a home run off Colorado Rockies pitcher Antonio Senzatela (49) in the second inning during a spring training game at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Top photos from Arizona Diamondbacks’ 2026 spring training
Arizona Diamondbacks center fielder Alek Thomas (5) catches a fly ball from Colorado Rockies’ Edouard Julien (6) in the second inning during a spring training game at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Philip Abner (50) takes the mound against the Colorado Rockies in the third inning during a spring training game at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
Kelly said he underwent “pretty much every test under the sun” over the past few days to try to get to the bottom of the back issue that caused him to be scratched from a live batting practice session over the weekend. None explained why Kelly has been feeling what he’s feeling when throwing in recent weeks.
“We’ve looked at the spine, we’ve looked at the ribs, we’ve looked at the muscles, we’ve looked at the tendons, we’ve looked at everything back there,” Kelly said. “And that’s all coming back good, which is a positive, obviously. But there’s still something going on back there. Still feel something.”
Before speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Feb. 25, Kelly played catch for the first time in four days. He said he felt something on only “a couple” of throws. He saw both good and bad in that.
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“The intensity in the bullpen was way different than what I was doing today, and the sensation was more intense, I think, probably because of the intensity,” Kelly said. “Today was simply just to get the ball back in my hand and get the arm moving. … I’m happy that the majority of the throws I didn’t feel it, but with the intent that I was on today, still feeling it is obviously not a positive.”
Kelly said the news was tough to take in part because he saw this as his “one and only” chance to get the ball on Opening Day. (Presumably, Diamondbacks No. 1 starter Corbin Burnes will be fully healthy entering next spring.)
“I saw it as kind of my one shot to throw Opening Day,” Kelly said. “Obviously, that’s disappointing, but injuries are part of it, and all I really care about at this point is being able to throw again and then be ready for the team whenever, whether it’s Opening Day or the last game of the rotation. It doesn’t really matter at this point to as long as I’m back.”
Other than Gallen and Nelson, Lovullo’s other options are right-hander Brandon Pfaadt, left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez and right-hander Michael Soroka. Given the calendar, there should be plenty of time for the Diamondbacks to line up the rotation however they see fit.
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“We’ve got five other candidates and we’re going to take a look at it,” Lovullo said. “It’s wide open.”
—Nick Piecoro
Zac Gallen encouraged by spring velocity
Right-hander Zac Gallen turned in his first Cactus League outing, firing a scoreless inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday, Feb. 25, and doing so with a particularly lively fastball.
Gallen, who struck out two and allowed a single on 23 pitches, averaged 94.7 mph with his fastball, more than a tick up from his last season’s 93.5 mph average.
Of course, going one inning on Day 1 is different from throwing 100 pitches every five days for six months. That said, it is still encouraging for Gallen, who has often needed to build up his velocity throughout camp.
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“From a physical standpoint, physicality standpoint, I feel like the ball has been coming out of my hand pretty good,” Gallen said. “The velocity in the sides and live BP has been a tick up compared to years past.”
Gallen said he worked hard in the offseason to make sure he came into the year in good condition.
“I’m 30, so I’ve got to do it a little differently now,” he said. “… I feel like I’m in a good spot. A lot of really hard work this offseason and I feel like we’re trending in the right direction, hopefully.”
Gallen got a kick out of the Salt River Fields video board, which tracked his first fastball of the game at 98 mph. (It was actually 94.2 mph, per MLB’s pitch-tracking system.)
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“When I saw the first one was 98, I was like, ‘Maybe it’s real? I don’t know,’” Gallen said. “When I saw the 92 mph curveball I was like, ‘Ah, I guess it’s not real.’”
Gallen said he hadn’t thought about whether he could be fully built up to pitch on Opening Day, though Lovullo seemed to have his doubts when he spoke to reporters earlier in the day.
Lovullo wasn’t saying Gallen wouldn’t be ready to start the season on time, but rather that he wouldn’t want to have a pitcher turn in a short outing and leave the pitching staff “playing catch-up on Day 1.”
—Nick Piecoro
Dodgers 10, Diamondbacks 7
At Salt River Fields
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At the plate: The Diamondbacks got off to a good start against RHP Roki Sasaki, one of the heroes of the Dodgers’ run to the 2025 World Series title as a reliever. 3B Nolan Arenado doubled sharply down the left field line to drive in the first run of the bottom of the first inning, then 2B Ildemaro Vargas doubled to right to score DH Tim Tawa and Arenado for a quick 3-0 lead. 1B Pavin Smith homered to left-center in the bottom of the fifth for his first home run of the Cactus League. RF Druw Jones had two singles and a stolen base. Tawa and prospect José Fernandez hit solo home runs back-to-back in the bottom of the seventh.
On the mound: RHP Zac Gallen got in an inning of work in his 2026 spring training debut. He threw fastballs around 91 to 95 mph, struck out two and allowed a leadoff single over 23 total pitches. RHP Drey Jameson made his Cactus League debut and allowed one earned run on two hits with two strikeouts in one inning of work. He issued a two-out walk. The Dodgers scored four runs in the top of the fifth inning, two of those unearned. “I liked the stuff,” Lovullo said of Jameson. “I liked the fact that he could pump that 95, 96 mph fastball in there and use it as a reset to some of the secondary stuff that he’s thrown as well.”
Extra bases: Jones was charged with a fielding error that allowed a run to score on a single in the second inning, with Jameson pitching. Vargas dropped a throw on a would-be force-out with two outs in the fifth inning, allowing a run to score. It was one of three miscues by Arizona. “You see how fast games get away from you when plays aren’t made,” Lovullo said. “It was a tough couple of innings there.” LF Ryan Waldschmidt made a diving catch in the top of the sixth inning. The Dodgers, undefeated in spring training at 5-0, didn’t bring a star-studded lineup, with superstar DH/RHP Shohei Ohtani already off to Japan for the World Baseball Classic and several other big names not playing a road game. New closer RHP Edwin Diaz pitched a scoreless inning in his 2026 Cactus League debut.
Next game, Thursday, Feb. 26: Diamondbacks LHP Eduardo Rodriguez vs. Kansas City Royals RHP Ryan Bergert, 1:10 p.m., Salt River Fields.
-José M. Romero
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Diamondbacks lose Kelly for Opening Day, lose to Dodgers in spring