Pitcher Merrill Kelly, who recently joined the Texas Rangers, will face his former team, the Arizona Diamondbacks, for the first time on Wednesday afternoon. The game, set in Arlington, Texas, concludes a tightly contested three-game interleague series between the two teams. This matchup draws attention because Kelly’s trade deadline move has created a rare showdown against the team he spent his entire professional career with until July 31.
Pitching Matchup Features Former Teammates
The Diamondbacks will start right-hander Zac Gallen, who holds a 9-12 record with a 5.31 ERA this season. He will oppose fellow righty Merrill Kelly, who is 9-7 with a 3.38 ERA and has made two starts for the Rangers since the trade. Texas and Arizona have split the opening two games of the series, with the Rangers taking a 10-inning victory on Monday, and the Diamondbacks responding with a narrow 3-2 win on Tuesday, sparked by a ninth-inning home run from Ketel Marte.
Kelly’s Recent Performance and Adjustments
Kelly played with Arizona from 2019 until the trade deadline, where he was a key member of their pitching staff. Since joining Texas, he has recorded an 0-1 mark in two outings, posting a 5.40 ERA across 10 innings. In his start on August 2 at Seattle, he pitched 5 2/3 innings allowing two runs, while his most recent start against Philadelphia ended with four runs over 4 1/3 innings and a season-high five walks, a rarity for the pitcher this year.
Reflecting on his latest struggles, Kelly said,
“I knew I could only walk a tightrope so long by putting that many people on base, giving that many free passes, Eventually, it ended up coming back to bite me.”
He also attributed his control issues to mechanical inconsistencies:
“It was probably a mix of just overcorrecting things, I would kind of fly open, let a ball run too far arm-side and then try to overcorrect it, and then I would kind of pull it and yank it glove-side. Just kind of in-between on everything.”
Anticipation Builds Among Players for the Showdown
Having never faced the Rangers as an opponent prior to his trade, Kelly entering this game is a first in his career. Arizona shortstop Geraldo Perdomo acknowledged the upcoming challenge, stating,
“We faced him a couple times in live (batting practice), We’re gonna be ready for Merrill.”
This shows the Diamondbacks are studying Kelly’s pitching style despite his recent team change.
Zac Gallen’s Season and Outlook on Facing Kelly
Zac Gallen, a two-time top-five National League Cy Young Award finalist in 2022 and 2023, has experienced a challenging season. His current 9-12 record is on track to be his first losing season since 2021. However, he has shown improvement lately, winning two of his last starts and posting a 2.25 ERA over 12 innings this month. In his latest start against Colorado, Gallen pitched six innings, giving up one run on four hits and three walks while striking out six.
Gallen summed up his expectations for the matchup against Kelly, saying,
“It’ll be fun, I mean, I know as a pitcher, you’re more thinking about the lineup you’re facing. I’m wondering how weird it’ll be for our hitters to face Merrill. For us squaring off against each other, I don’t think of it as much in that sense. But still, it will be fun, nonetheless.”
Historical Context of the Pitchers Against Texas Rangers
Gallen has a favorable history against the Rangers, holding a 2-1 record with a 2.78 ERA over four career starts and 22 2/3 innings pitched. His most recent outing against Texas was a dominant effort on September 10 of last year in Phoenix, where he allowed no runs over five innings while limiting the Rangers to just two hits in a 6-0 Diamondbacks victory.
Potential Impact of the Game and What Lies Ahead
This game carries more weight than a typical midweek contest due to the personal ties between the pitchers and the recent roster moves. Merrill Kelly’s performance against his former team will be closely watched as he works to solidify his role with the Rangers. Meanwhile, Gallen looks to continue his resurgence and maintain his effectiveness down the stretch. The outcome may influence both teams’ morale and pitching strategies as they approach the final weeks of the MLB season.