Kelly joins D-backs in Philly, will make first start in Baltimore

PHILADELPHIA -- There was a familiar face back in the Diamondbacks clubhouse prior to Arizona's 4-3 win over the Phillies on Sunday at Citizens Bank Park, as right-hander Merrill Kelly prepared to throw his between-starts bullpen session.

Kelly, who has been on the injured list to open the season, is scheduled to make his first start of the year Tuesday against the Orioles in Baltimore.

Kelly had been tabbed to start Opening Day before suffering a back injury early in Spring Training. Kelly experienced some discomfort in his back while warming up for a live batting practice session Feb. 21. Friday.

After being diagnosed with left intercostal nerve irritation, Kelly was able to make a few starts during Spring Training but was not built up enough pitch wise to be on the active roster for Opening Day.

After making a start for Triple-A Reno on April 3 in which he threw 72 pitches, the Diamondbacks elected to have him throw in an extended spring game last Thursday on a backfield at Salt River Fields.

The backfield game got him to 85 pitches, but Kelly did push back a bit on the idea of another rehab outing. In the end though, accepted the club's decision.

"I just felt like I was ready," Kelly said. "But obviously, it's not my decision. You know, it's up to the organization. Obviously, I wanted to be back with the team, help the team. I felt like I was healthy, but at the end of the day, one more is not going to make or break anything."

Not only will this be Kelly's first time pitching at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, it will be his first ever visit. After this, he will have been to all 30.

"We wanted to get him here, throw his bullpen in front of [pitching coach Brian Kaplan] and the rest of the pitching coaches," Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. "We felt that that was very important. So we're grateful that he flew in yesterday."

Of course, the elephant in the room is that someone will have to leave the rotation for Kelly to join, as the team has apparently ruled out going with a six-man rotation.

"No decisions have been made," Lovullo said. "We haven't talked about who's going where. We'll worry about what happens with Merrill in the coming days."