SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- While Merrill Kelly won't start on Opening Day due to a back issue that cropped up last week, it doesn't mean that the right-hander will for sure start the year on the injured list, either.
The Diamondbacks are holding out hope that if Kelly can get back on a mound soon, there is a chance the club could slot him in at the back end of the rotation to open the season and avoid having him miss any starts.
"We feel like, given the progress he's made, and the evaluation that was done by a lot of really good people, that if we do start the progression, sooner than later, he might be on the back end of our rotation," Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said. "So that's what we're going to hold out hope for. But anything's possible. We still got to wait until it's all said and done."
Lovullo didn't want to set a specific date for when Kelly would need to get back on a mound, but it will need to be fairly soon in order for the 37-year-old starter to get built up enough for his first turn through the rotation.
"We got to get him completely asymptomatic," Lovullo said. "He feels good, which is a really good sign. But once we get him totally asymptomatic, we'll start that work. Whatever that work progression is, we don't have that yet."
Another pitching injury
Cristian Mena, who missed half of last season with a right teres major injury, reaggravated the injury while throwing Wednesday. The right-hander was shut down and will open the year on the injured list.
Mena, 23, appeared in three games over two big league stints with the Diamondbacks last year.
After tossing 3 2/3 scoreless innings in relief on May 9, Mena was optioned back to Triple-A Reno before coming back up on June 1 and throwing two scoreless frames in his first outing. Then, in a rain-marred game in Cincinnati on June 6, he suffered the right teres major injury and was out for the remainder of the season.
While not expected to make the Opening Day roster, the Diamondbacks were counting on him being one of their first depth options in Reno.
"We are going to pull him totally back out of all drills, all throwing programs, and let him rest for right now," Lovullo said. "What that [timeline] is, I'm not sure."
Taking it slow with Pfaadt
Right-hander Brandon Pfaadt threw a live batting practice session Thursday and will be one of the final starters to get into a Cactus League game while the team slow-plays his progression a bit.
Lovullo said Pfaadt had a little bit of a side issue during the offseason, and while he was asymptomatic at the beginning of camp, the team just wants to take it a little slower with him at first.
Pfaadt is expected to be part of Arizona's Opening Day rotation.
"He'll be ready to go," Lovullo said.
Good tuneup
The Diamondbacks will take on Team Mexico on Tuesday at Salt River Fields as Mexico gets ready for the World Baseball Classic.
Arizona outfielder Alek Thomas is playing for Team Mexico for the second straight Classic and former Diamondbacks third-base coach Tony Perezchica will serve on Mexico's coaching staff.
"We're excited to see what Team Mexico looks like," Lovullo said. "They've got a buildup that they're trying to get to so I'm sure they're going to come in here playing as hard as they possibly can. Spring Training games for us can get very repetitive. You know, sometimes we all don't even know who we're playing that day, right? Knowing that Team Mexico is walking in here creates a little bit more excitement."