The Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers continue their season-opening series in Los Angeles on Friday night. The Diamondbacks come into the 2023 season hoping to continue to build off of last year's 20+ game improvement. Meanwhile, the Dodgers will look to once again make the playoffs and attempt to claim their second World Series title in five years. The pitching matchup on Friday night will be a pair of right-handers with Merrill Kelly of the D-backs taking on the Dodgers' Dustin May, who only made six starts last year after coming back from Tommy John surgery. The first pitch is scheduled for 10:10 PM EST.
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In 2021, the Diamondbacks hit rock bottom, winning just 52 games and finishing in last place in the NL West Division. The Diamondbacks moved on from outfielder Daulton Varsho in the offseason, looking to cut down on left-handed hitting heavy batting order. They added some bullpen arms as well as catcher Gabriel Moreno, a former top-10 prospect and Blue Jays outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. The Diamondbacks also now have some space for Rookie of the Year candidate Corbin Carroll. Carroll has top-tier speed and some power as well despite his small stature. Carroll led Arizona with 17 hits in the spring. The Diamondbacks' rotation is led by Friday night's starter Kelly, who won 13 games last year, and Zac Gellen, who went 12-4 in 2022. On Thursday night, Gallen got the call and gave up six hits and five runs in 4 2/3 innings of work to pick up the loss.
#Open ingDay starter tonight, batting practice talk show host yesterday.@zacgallen23 really can do it all. ?? pic.twitter.com/WBcj7iez4r
— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) March 31, 2023
Kelly draws the game two start after winning 13 games last year and throwing 200 innings with a 3.37 ERA. In his career in April, Kelly has gone 6-5 in 15 career games with an ERA of 3.81 and a K/9 rate of 7.52. Last season against the Dodgers, Kelly struggled against the Dodgers last season, however, going 0-5 in five starts. Kelly allowed 32 hits in 24.2 innings of work with an 8.25 ERA. Kelly allowed six home runs in the five starts. In his career, Kelly is 0-9 against the Dodgers with an ERA of 5.97. He has allowed 78 hits in 63 innings in his 12 starts against the Dodgers.
Key Injuries: Relievers Joe Mantiply and Mark Melancon are out.
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