Diamondbacks' Ryne Nelson: Rejoining rotation next week
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Nelson will re-enter the Arizona rotation as a replacement for the injured Eduardo Rodriguez (shoulder) and is expected to make his next start Monday or Tuesday versus the Dodgers in Los Angeles, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.
Nelson made a spot start for last Monday against the Mets in place of Corbin Burnes, but the former had since shifted back to a relief role this week after Burnes didn't require a stint on the injured list. During that start, Nelson tossed 30 pitches, and he's been able to stay fairly stretched out while working out of the bullpen for much of the season, throwing at least 50 pitches in four of his nine relief outings. Manager Torey Lovullo said Friday that he's comfortable with Nelson working in the 65-to-70 pitch range for a couple of starts before ramping up beyond that, though it's not clear how long Nelson will be needed in the rotation. He currently holds a 5.13 ERA but a 3.93 xERA and a 16.1 K-BB% over 26.1 total innings on the season.
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Diamondbacks' Ryne Nelson: Back in bullpen Saturday
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Nelson struck out one over two perfect innings to earn the save in Saturday's 3-0 win over the Dodgers.
Nelson's previous outing was a spot start Monday versus the Mets, in which he allowed two runs over 4.1 innings while covering the absence of Corbin Burnes (shoulder). Burnes returned to the mound Saturday and delivered seven shutout innings, and Nelson was able to close out the win, needing just 16 pitches (11 strikes) over the last two frames. While Nelson got this save, he's unlikely to be a regular in the high-leverage mix. He likely got the late-inning assignment Saturday because five of Arizona's other relievers had pitched at least once over the previous two days, while he was fresh. Nelson has a 5.01 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 23:8 K:BB, 1-1 record, one save and one blown save across 23.1 innings this season. He should settle back into a long-relief role.
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Diamondbacks' Ryne Nelson: Inefficient in spot start
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Nelson (1-1) allowed two runs on three hits and four walks while striking out two over 4.1 innings to take the loss Monday versus the Mets.
Nelson threw 70 pitches (39 strikes) in his first start of 2025 after working out of the bullpen to begin the campaign. He wasn't all that sharp Monday, but his only big mistake was allowing a two-run home run to Pete Alonso in the fourth inning. Nelson is at a 5.48 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 22:8 K:BB across 21.1 innings. Considering this was a spot start to cover for Corbin Burnes (shoulder), it's expected Nelson's next appearance will be in relief unless Burnes experiences a setback.
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Diamondbacks' Ryne Nelson: Set for start Monday
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Nelson will start Monday's game against the Mets in Arizona, Jody Jackson of Bally Sports Arizona reports.
Nelson will get a turn in the rotation after the Diamondbacks decided to have Corbin Burnes (shoulder) skip a start while dealing with right shoulder inflammation. The right-hander made 25 starts for Arizona in 2024 but has worked exclusively out of the bullpen so far this season, logging a 5.82 ERA and 1.18 WHIP with 20 strikeouts over 17 innings in seven appearances. He got stretched out to four innings and tossed a season-high 68 pitches in his most recent relief outing ,ast Tuesday, so Nelson should be able to handle something close to a typical starter's workload Monday.
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Diamondbacks' Ryne Nelson: Needed for bulk relief
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Nelson walked two and struck out three over four hitless and scoreless innings in Tuesday's 8-3 loss to the Mets.
Starter Eduardo Rodriguez was chased after giving up eight runs over four innings. Enter Nelson, who threw his most innings (68 pitches) of the season. He's made seven appearances, six of more than three outs. Nelson was ambushed twice in couple of his outings, leaving him with a 5.82 ERA, but he has a tidy 20:4 K:BB through 17 innings.
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Diamondbacks' Ryne Nelson: Soaks up innings Thursday
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Nelson allowed one run on three hits and struck out five over 2.1 innings in Thursday's 7-4 extra-inning loss to Tampa Bay.
Nelson entered the game in the seventh inning with Arizona nursing a 4-3 lead and cruised through his first two frames. With the back end of the bullpen shorthanded, the right-hander was asked to pitch the ninth as well, but Nelson faded and was tagged with the tying run, and his first blown save, as he handled his biggest workload of the season (54 pitches). The Diamondbacks are working without high-leverage options A.J. Puk (elbow) and Kevin Ginkel (shoulder), and a recent bout of fatigue led manager Torey Lovullo to not use Justin Martinez after he'd pitched Wednesday.
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Diamondbacks' Ryne Nelson: Logs first win
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Nelson (1-0) allowed one run on two hits and struck out three over three innings of relief to pick up the win in Saturday's 5-4 victory over the Brewers.
Nelson held Milwaukee mostly in check until the Diamondbacks rallied for five runs in the bottom of the ninth inning, giving the right-hander his first win. Since an unsightly debut, Nelson has allowed one run on three hits while striking out seven over 8.1 innings as a multi-inning reliever. While he competed for a rotation spot in camp, if the Diamondbacks need a spot starter in the near future, he may not be a candidate as he likely wouldn't be able to last five innings without first being stretched back out.
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Diamondbacks' Ryne Nelson: Strong showing in long relief
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Nelson allowed one hit while striking out two over 2.1 scoreless innings in Thursday's 9-7 loss to the Yankees.
Nelson gave Arizona some length after the Yankees battered starter Merrill Kelly for nine runs in 3.2 innings. The long reliever was able to keep New York in check and dropped his ERA from 21.60 to 9.00. Nelson had a rough first appearance Opening Day (four runs, 1.2 innings) and sat on that for a week before Thursday's ERA correction. The right-hander was a key member of the Diamondbacks' rotation in 2024 and remains capable of being stretched out if needed as a starter.
Nelson will remain stretched out as a reliever, Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports reports. "(Nelson) is going to be able to provide us some length," Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said. "We feel like we've got some solid backup there just in case the starter doesn't give us what he needs to."
Nelson, who fell short in his bid to be the No. 5 starter, became the top long option out the bullpen following the news that Jordan Montgomery will undergo Tommy John elbow surgery. The Montgomery news also suggests that Nelson could be in line to start should a current member of the rotation require extended downtime due to injury. Nelson was a valued part of the rotation in 2024, when he improved in several underlying metrics (K:BB, K/9, BB/9, HR/9) compared to 2023.
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Diamondbacks' Ryne Nelson: Rotation bid falls short
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Nelson will begin the season working out of the bullpen, as Brandon Pfaadt was named Arizona's No. 5 starter Sunday, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.
Nelson surrendered 10 earned runs across 11 innings during spring training, though nine of those runs were given up in a single appearance. The 27-year-old started in 25 of his 28 appearances for the Diamondbacks last season and had a 4.24 ERA and 126:34 K:BB over 150.2 innings.
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Diamondbacks' Ryne Nelson: Calm spring no longer
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Nelson allowed nine runs (eight earned) on 11 hits while striking out one over three-plus innings in Monday's Cactus League start against Kansas City.
Nelson's uneventful spring blew up in his fourth spring outing (third start). He was responsible for runs in all innings pitched and was chased after giving up four consecutive hits to lead off the fourth. The Royals were jumping on Nelson early in counts -- the right-hander threw just 55 pitches despite facing 19 batters. Nelson, who was a rotation regular in 2024, is competing for the fifth spot this spring.
Diamondbacks' Ryne Nelson: Makes second spring start
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Nelson allowed one run on three hits while striking out three over 2.1 innings in Thursday's spring start against the Guardians.
Nelson toed the rubber for a second Cactus League start and worked up to 51 pitches (30 strikes). The battle for the final rotation spot kicked into high gear this week. Nelson followed Brandon Pfaadt, who started Wednesday, and Jordan Montgomery (finger) will make his spring debut Friday in what is expected to be a multi-inning relief appearance.
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Diamondbacks' Ryne Nelson: Logs two innings Friday
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Nelson allowed one hit and two walks while striking out one over two scoreless innings in Friday's spring game against Kansas City.
Nelson, making his Cactus League debut, followed starter Merrill Kelly, pitching the third and fourth innings. Nelson was a mainstay in the rotation the last two seasons -- and showed improvement in 2024 -- but he enters the spring in a battle for a rotation spot for a third consecutive season. His scoreless outing follows a similar one Thursday from Brandon Pfaadt, who is also competing for the same rotation spot along with Jordan Montgomery.
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Diamondbacks' Ryne Nelson: Has minor-league options
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Nelson still has minor-league options remaining and could open the season at Triple-A Reno, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports. Arizona has seven legitimate starters in camp competing for five spots.
For Nelson, who was second among starters in innings pitched in 2024, to not have a spot on lock seems odd, but the Diamondbacks have assembled plenty of rotation depth. Zac Gallen, Corbin Burnes, Merrill Kelly and Eduardo Rodriguez are set in the top four spots, with the fifth starter role coming down to Nelson, Brandon Pfaadt or Jordan Montgomery. Nelson and Pfaadt, who also has minor-league options left and led the Diamondbacks in innings in 2024, could start the year in the Aces' rotation, although Montgomery is a candidate to shift to a long-relief role.
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