When it comes to pitching prowess, the Arizona Diamondbacks have had their fair share of standout performers.
In 2019, Merrill Kelly made his long-awaited MLB debut with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The unsung quietly became a reliable and consistent force on the mound for the team.
The sight of Kelly taking the mount on Tuesday against the Dodgers brought a glimmer of hope for the D-backs.
However, during the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, things did not go as planned for the Arizona Diamondbacks" pitcher.
As Kelly struggled on the mound, conceding seven earned runs and allowing 12 hits in just five innings.
This performance ultimately led to a demoralizing 9-1 loss at the Dodger Stadium.
Meanwhile, the San Francisco Giants" victory over the Cincinnati Reds, including a near-no-hitter from Alex Cobb, saw the D-backs slip out of the third National League (NL) Wild Card spot.
Presently, they find themselves half a game behind the Giants and 1 1/2 games behind the Chicago Cubs, who secured a win against the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday.
In their starts, Gallen and Kelly have showcased their prowess, combining for an impressive 13 runs on 21 hits and six walks in just 10 1/3 innings.
Despite that Kelly has occasionally delivered impressive outings, such as on Aug. 9, when he threw six scoreless innings and took a no-decision.
Kelly"s overall career ERA against the Dodgers stands at a discouraging 5.49.
In his 16 career starts against the Dodgers, Kelly has a record 0-11.
In comparison, his ERA against all other teams averages at a much better 3.61.
Amidst the current situation Lovullo made a remark;
"I believe in him [against the Dodgers]," "I believe in him being able to spin the ball, throw it wherever he wants and eliminate who he"s throwing it against.
I know what the numbers are saying and I can"t defend it, but I believe enough in him that, when he needs to go out there and make pitches and get outs, that he can do it against anybody."
The Arizona Diamondbacks experienced a rough season against their fierce rivals, despite the fact that they began their 2023 campaign on a high note, winning five out of eight games against their rivals in the first two series of the year.
The D-backs fell to a disappointing 5-7 record against the Dodgers, topping off in a season-series loss.
"We got to make some adjustments all the way around," Lovullo said. "It"s not just [Kelly and Gallen]. It"s the hitting, it"s just staying engaged at the most critical times and expecting to execute on both sides of the ball. We got to tighten up."
