Merrill Kelly
Breakdown
Performance
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May 4, 2026
Hammered for six runs in loss
Kelly (1-3) took the loss Sunday against the Cubs, allowing six runs on eight hits and three walks with five strikeouts across 4.1 innings.
Analysis
Kelly had the strikeout stuff working at Wrigley Field, but when he wasn't getting whiffs, the Cubs were punishing the right-hander. Moises Ballesteros took Kelly deep in the third inning, and it was Kelly's sixth homer allowed in four starts. After missing the first three weeks of the season, Kelly has limped to a 9.95 ERA and ugly 14:15 K:BB across 19 innings. He's been tagged for 19 runs across 13.2 innings over his last three outings and will try to right the ship next weekend at home against the lowly Mets.
April 29, 2026
Struggles with command again
Kelly (1-2) took the loss Tuesday against the Brewers, allowing five runs on six hits and five walks while striking out one over five innings.
Analysis
Kelly came into Tuesday looking to bounce back from a disaster outing in his last start, when he allowed eight runs in 4.1 innings against the White Sox, but his command issues continued to cause him trouble. The right-hander threw just 58 of his 104 pitches for strikes and issued five walks, creating constant traffic on the bases. Those free passes proved costly, as two of Kelly's walks came around to score in the fourth inning on a Joey Ortiz single. Through three starts, Kelly now holds a 9.20 ERA, 2.25 WHIP and 9:12 K:BB across 14.2 innings. With a tough matchup against the Cubs looming, it may be difficult for him to turn things around immediately.
