Merrill Kelly returned from the injured list for the D-backs, allowing two runs in 5.1 innings as Arizona edged Baltimore 4-3, sparked by Ildemaro Vargas.
Merrill Kelly’s first start of the season came with the kind of mixed feelings pitchers know too well: a rough edge at times, then enough control to get the job done.
Kelly returns: effective, not perfect
Kelly made his first regular-season start for Arizona since July 26 on Tuesday, returning from the injured list with a performance that landed in the familiar lane of a veteran ace—productive, disciplined in key moments, and ultimately rewarded with a 4-3 win over the Baltimore Orioles.
The right-hander went 5.1 innings and allowed two earned runs on 86 pitches.. He gave Arizona a steady platform after a 1-2-3 first inning. but the second frame brought hard contact. including a solo home run from Orioles catcher Samuel Basallo.. From there, control wobbled briefly—he walked a run in the third and saw Baltimore threaten with runners on base.
Still, Kelly’s night settled after that.. He stranded bases loaded in the third and then worked through the next 2.1 innings with one hit and two strikeouts.. Across the outing. he finished with five hits. four walks and three strikeouts. while his changeup helped generate swings and misses—four whiffs and only one ball in play.. For a season debut. that’s the kind of balance teams chase: you don’t need clean innings every time. but you do need to keep runs off the board when traffic appears.
What the outing says about Arizona’s rotation
Kelly’s re-debut also carried an underlying message about Arizona’s planning.. He was scheduled as the Opening Day starter after being named early in spring. but intercostal nerve irritation in his back pushed him back in camp.. Rehab starts in Triple-A Reno and extended spring action followed. before the timing finally lined up to bring him back into the rotation.
That context matters because the first start after an injury doesn’t just test a pitcher’s health—it tests rhythm.. Tuesday’s line suggests Kelly did not lose his feel entirely, even though walks and big swings showed up.. The bigger takeaway is that he still found a way to keep Baltimore from pulling ahead. and Arizona’s offense gave him a comeback path.
Kelly also brings a personal storyline that has traveled with him this season.. Signed back over the winter after being traded to Texas at the deadline. he returned to his hometown organization on a two-year deal with a vesting option.. The veteran nickname “Merrill the Mainstay” was fitting again—not because everything was flawless. but because he produced results that count in the standings.
One more key detail: Arizona led 4-2 when Kelly walked off the field at Oriole Park. That means his job wasn’t just to survive his innings—it was to give the bullpen a manageable situation rather than a chase.
Vargas’ historic streak flips the game
Arizona’s turnaround came in the fifth inning, when the D-backs scored four times after falling behind 2-0. Central to that surge was Ildemaro Vargas, who delivered the go-ahead home run after a seven-pitch walk from Jorge Barrosa.
Vargas’ blast did more than move the score.. It extended his hitting streak to 11 games to open the season, a Diamondbacks franchise record.. Previously, the franchise mark was 10 games held by David Peralta, Didi Gregorius, Willie Bloomquist, Tony Bautista and Steve Finley.. On top of that. Vargas has been one of Arizona’s most impactful offseason additions early in the campaign. batting .381 with a 1.076 OPS through the first stretch of play.
The matchup and the timing fit together.. Vargas was even moved up in the batting order after Ketel Marte was scratched shortly before first pitch with lower back tightness. moving Vargas into the lead-off spot.. He didn’t just deliver at the plate; he also handled several defensive plays at a new position. shifting from first base to second.
The fifth inning had other moving parts too.. Jose Fernandez added the fourth run on an RBI double off the wall in center field. while Orioles starter Trevor Rogers was chased after allowing four runs in his first three starts.. Tuesday’s game reflected what Arizona needed: one inning where timing and patience both connected.
Bullpen steadies things as D-backs hold on
Kelly exited with Arizona ahead, and the bullpen took it from there. Taylor Clarke, Ryan Thompson and Paul Sewald combined to keep the Orioles off the scoreboard after the fifth.
Clarke came in for 1.2 innings, and Thompson later entered with a tough situation—bases loaded and two outs in the eighth. A Geraldo Perdomo bobble disrupted the clean double-play plan, and Thompson struggled briefly to record the final out before handing the moment to Sewald.
Even with the late chaos, the finish held. Thompson threw a strike to first on a dribbler, and Sewald closed with a 1-2-3 ninth for his sixth save. Thompson, notably, is still without an earned run allowed through 10 appearances, while Sewald has converted all six save opportunities so far.
Those are the small numbers that stabilize a team after an injury return. When a starting pitcher is working back into form, bullpen consistency becomes the difference between a good performance and a win that feels fully earned.
Why this game matters for Arizona right now
Arizona out-hit Baltimore 10-7, but scored in only one inning. That kind of scoring distribution can be frustrating, yet it’s also a reminder that baseball often rewards the ability to deliver damage at the right time rather than across every frame.
The D-backs also showed they can absorb early adversity. After the Orioles took a 2-0 lead, Arizona waited for a specific opening and then made it count in the fifth. It wasn’t a full-game offensive burst—it was a targeted inning led by Vargas.
For fans, the emotional payoff is clear: a season-debut comeback, a franchise-record streak, and a veteran returning from injury without letting the moment turn into a loss.
Next up: final stop on the East Coast trip
Arizona concludes its nine-game East Coast road trip on Wednesday morning at 9:35 a.m. MST. The D-backs will also return to Chase Field Friday with momentum on their side, carrying a 5-3 record over the trip.
Eduardo Rodriguez is scheduled to pitch for Arizona on Wednesday, while Baltimore will counter with right-hander Kyle Bradish. If Arizona wins that series finale, it can push further into the kind of stretch that gives teams confidence beyond a single game.
For now, Merrill Kelly’s season debut versus the Orioles becomes a snapshot of the week ahead: not perfectly smooth, but effective—exactly the kind of return Arizona needed.
Devin Williams Mets Reality Check: The Volatility Fans Didn’t Expect