{"id":573732,"date":"2026-02-15T10:19:14","date_gmt":"2026-02-15T10:19:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/573732\/"},"modified":"2026-02-15T10:19:14","modified_gmt":"2026-02-15T10:19:14","slug":"torey-lovullo-announces-arizona-diamondbacks-opening-day-starter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/573732\/","title":{"rendered":"Torey Lovullo announces Arizona Diamondbacks’ Opening Day starter"},"content":{"rendered":"

Right-hander Merrill Kelly will be the Diamondbacks<\/a>\u2019 Opening Day starter, per manager Torey Lovullo, who dropped the news in a surprising, early-spring announcement during his session with reporters on Saturday, Feb. 14.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s the right thing to do,\u201d Lovullo said. \u201cHe was an easy candidate.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Kelly is coming off another strong season, in which he posted a 3.52 ERA in 32 starts, 10 of which came with the Texas Rangers<\/a> after a deadline trade. He signed back with the Diamondbacks in December on a two-year, $40 million deal.<\/p>\n

Lovullo opted for Kelly over right-handers Zac Gallen \u2014 who agreed to return on a one-year, $22.025 million deal on Friday, Feb. 13 \u2014 and Ryne Nelson, who last season emerged as a dependable rotation piece.<\/p>\n

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Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Gavin Logan during spring training workouts at Salt River Fields on Feb. 13, 2026, Scottsdale.<\/p>\n

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Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Geraldo Perdomo (2) during spring training workouts at Salt River Fields on Feb. 13, 2026, Scottsdale.<\/p>\n

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Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte (4) during spring training workouts at Salt River Fields on Feb. 13, 2026, Scottsdale.<\/p>\n

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Arizona Diamondbacks Carlos Santana during spring training workouts at Salt River Fields on Feb. 13, 2026, Scottsdale.<\/p>\n

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Arizona Diamondbacks Lourdes Gurriel Jr. during spring training workouts at Salt River Fields on Feb. 13, 2026, Scottsdale.<\/p>\n

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Arizona Diamondbacks catcher James McCann (8) takes infield practice during spring training workouts at Salt River Fields on Feb. 13, 2026, Scottsdale.<\/p>\n

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Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno (14) during spring training workouts at Salt River Fields on Feb. 13, 2026, Scottsdale.<\/p>\n

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Arizona Diamondbacks catcher James McCann (8) talks to pitcher Merrill Kelly during spring training workouts at Salt River Fields on Feb. 13, 2026, Scottsdale.<\/p>\n

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Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Merrill Kelly during spring training workouts at Salt River Fields on Feb. 13, 2026, Scottsdale.<\/p>\n

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Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Merrill Kelly during spring training workouts at Salt River Fields on Feb. 13, 2026, Scottsdale.<\/p>\n

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Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Merrill Kelly during spring training workouts at Salt River Fields on Feb. 13, 2026, Scottsdale.<\/p>\n

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Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Merrill Kelly during spring training workouts at Salt River Fields on Feb. 13, 2026, in Scottsdale.<\/p>\n

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Arizona Diamondbacks Jordan Lawlar during spring training workouts at Salt River Fields on Feb. 13, 2026, in Scottsdale.<\/p>\n

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Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Druw Jones during spring training workouts at Salt River Fields on Feb. 13, 2026, in Scottsdale.<\/p>\n

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Arizona Diamondbacks Lourdes Gurriel Jr. during spring training workouts at Salt River Fields on Feb. 13, 2026, in Scottsdale.<\/p>\n

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Arizona Diamondbacks assistant general manager Jeremy Bleich (left) during spring training workouts at Salt River Fields on Feb. 13, 2026, in Scottsdale.<\/p>\n

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Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Brandon Pfaadt (32) during spring training workouts at Salt River Fields on Feb. 13, 2026, in Scottsdale.<\/p>\n

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Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Druw Jones reacts during spring training workouts at Salt River Fields on Feb. 13, 2026, in Scottsdale.<\/p>\n

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Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Brandon Pfaadt (32) during spring training workouts at Salt River Fields on Feb. 13, 2026, in Scottsdale.<\/p>\n

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Arizona Diamondbacks catcher James McCann (8) talks to pitcher Brandon Pfaadt (32) during spring training workouts at Salt River Fields on Feb. 13, 2026, in Scottsdale.<\/p>\n

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Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte (4) during spring training workouts at Salt River Fields on Feb. 13, 2026, in Scottsdale.<\/p>\n

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Arizona Diamondbacks Carlos Santana during spring training workouts at Salt River Fields on Feb. 13, 2026, in Scottsdale.<\/p>\n

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Arizona Diamondbacks Alek Thomas (5) during spring training workouts at Salt River Fields on Feb. 13, 2026, in Scottsdale.<\/p>\n

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Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno (14) takes infield practice during spring training workouts at Salt River Fields on Feb. 13, 2026, in Scottsdale.<\/p>\n

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Arizona Diamondbacks Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (right) during spring training workouts at Salt River Fields on Feb. 13, 2026, in Scottsdale.<\/p>\n

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Arizona Diamondbacks catchers James McCann and Gabriel Moreno (right) during spring training workouts at Salt River Fields on Feb. 13, 2026 in Scottsdale.<\/p>\n

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Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno (14) throws a football during spring training workouts at Salt River Fields on Feb. 13, 2026, in Scottsdale.<\/p>\n

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Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo (17) during spring training workouts at Salt River Fields on Feb. 13, 2026, in Scottsdale.<\/p>\n

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Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo (17) during spring training workouts at Salt River Fields on Feb. 13, 2026, in Scottsdale.<\/p>\n

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Arizona Diamondbacks catcher James McCann (8) talks to pitcher Merrill Kelly during spring training workouts at Salt River Fields on Feb. 13, 2026, in Scottsdale.<\/p>\n

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Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Merrill Kelly during spring training workouts at Salt River Fields on Feb. 13, 2026, in Scottsdale.<\/p>\n

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Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Tommy Henry during spring training workouts at Salt River Fields on Feb. 13, 2026, in Scottsdale.<\/p>\n

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Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Tommy Henry during spring training workouts at Salt River Fields on Feb. 13, 2026, in Scottsdale.<\/p>\n

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Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Cristian Mena during spring training workouts at Salt River Fields on Feb. 13, 2026, in Scottsdale.<\/p>\n

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Arizona Diamondbacks Nolan Arenado during spring training workouts at Salt River Fields on Feb. 13, 2026, in Scottsdale.<\/p>\n

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Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Geraldo Perdomo (2) during spring training workouts at Salt River Fields on Feb. 13, 2026, in Scottsdale.<\/p>\n

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Arizona Diamondbacks Lourdes Gurriel Jr. during spring training workouts at Salt River Fields on Feb. 13, 2026, in Scottsdale.<\/p>\n

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Arizona Diamondbacks Lourdes Gurriel Jr. during spring training workouts at Salt River Fields on Feb. 13, 2026, in Scottsdale.<\/p>\n

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Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo (17) during spring training workouts at Salt River Fields on Feb. 13, 2026, in Scottsdale.<\/p>\n

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Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo (17) during spring training workouts at Salt River Fields on Feb. 13, 2026, in Scottsdale.<\/p>\n

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Arizona Diamondbacks Tim Tawa during spring training workouts at Salt River Fields on Feb. 13, 2026, in Scottsdale.<\/p>\n

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Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Brandon Pfaadt (32) during spring training workouts at Salt River Fields on Feb. 13, 2026, in Scottsdale.<\/p>\n

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Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Brandon Pfaadt (32) during spring training workouts at Salt River Fields on Feb. 13, 2026, in Scottsdale.<\/p>\n

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Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Kohl Drake during spring training workouts at Salt River Fields on Feb. 13, 2026, in Scottsdale.<\/p>\n

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Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte (4) during spring training workouts at Salt River Fields on Feb. 13, 2026, in Scottsdale.<\/p>\n

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Arizona Diamondbacks Carlos Santana during spring training workouts at Salt River Fields on Feb. 13, 2026, in Scottsdale.<\/p>\n

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Arizona Diamondbacks Alek Thomas (5) during spring training workouts at Salt River Fields on Feb. 13, 2026, in Scottsdale.<\/p>\n

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Arizona Diamondbacks Jordan Lawlar catches a fly ball during spring training workouts at Salt River Fields on Feb. 13, 2026, in Scottsdale.<\/p>\n

The timing is unusual for Lovullo, who has tended to wait until later in spring to announce a decision. The timing backfired on him last year when he opted for Gallen over right-hander Corbin Burnes; rather than pitching the second game of the season, as Lovullo had expected, Burnes was pushed to the fifth game in order to adhere to his routine.<\/p>\n

Lovullo said he had settled on the Kelly decision over the past couple of days in conversations with club officials.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI just thought, \u2018Why not congratulate him and have a good baseball moment? Why not let you guys know and get out way ahead of it?\u2019\u201d Lovullo said. \u201cIt\u2019s not crazy that this type of stuff happens. I\u2019ve seen other managers do it.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I don\u2019t know, I don\u2019t know. I have very strong feelings about certain things, but I\u2019m not always 100 percent certain and that\u2019s when I live in that gray space with you guys. But since I knew, I was like, \u2018Why not?\u2019 I\u2019ll tell him and I\u2019ll tell you guys.\u201d<\/p>\n

This will be Kelly\u2019s first Opening Day assignment. Gallen had taken the ball in the opener each of the previous three seasons.<\/p>\n

The Diamondbacks open their season on March 26 at Dodger Stadium.<\/p>\n

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Diamondbacks’ Merrill Kelly gets Opening Day nod from Torey Lovullo<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Right-hander Merrill Kelly will be the Diamondbacks\u2019 Opening Day starter, per manager Torey Lovullo, who dropped the news…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":573733,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2404],"tags":[146,22,4314,5,97,38,660,4,1406,5938,69,638,86],"class_list":{"0":"post-573732","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-arizona-diamondbacks","8":"tag-arizona","9":"tag-arizona-diamondbacks","10":"tag-arizonadiamondbacks","11":"tag-baseball","12":"tag-corbin-burnes","13":"tag-diamondbacks","14":"tag-merrill-kelly","15":"tag-mlb","16":"tag-opening-day","17":"tag-ryne-nelson","18":"tag-texas-rangers","19":"tag-torey-lovullo","20":"tag-zac-gallen"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@mlb\/116074146074127425","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/573732","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=573732"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/573732\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/573733"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=573732"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=573732"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=573732"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}