Merrill Kelly to the IL With a Calf Injury

Kevin Ginkel and Justin Martinez recalled from Triple A-Reno, Joe Mantiply optioned to Reno

In somewhat of a surprise, the Diamondbacks have placed starter Merrill Kelly on the 15 day injured list with calf inflammation, retroactive to June 25th. It's a massive blow to the D-backs rotation as Kelly is having a career year and along with Zac Gallen has provided one of the best one-two rotation punches in MLB

Kelly is 9-4 with a 3.22 ERA in 16 starts, 95 innings pitched. Last year he was 13-8 with a 3.37 ERA and reached a personal goal of 200 innings pitched. Nicknamed Merrill the Mainstay, the D-backs will be challenged to replace his production in the rotation for however long he is out.  It's not known as of this writing the severity of the injury or how  much time he is projected to miss.  This story will be updated later in the afternoon after we have a chance to speak with Torey Lovullo and hopefully Kelly himself. 

In corresponding moves, right hander Kevin Ginkel has been called back up and Justin Martinez has been promoted to MLB for the first time. We reported on Martinez' imminent promotion  yesterday.  Also reported earlier today, Joe Mantiply has been optioned to Reno.

Ginkel has a 2.76 ERA in 29.1 innings this year. He was recently optioned to Reno when Mantiply came off the injured list, but due to Mantiply's poor performance and Kelly's injury he's getting another chance. 

Martinez throws a 100 MPH fastball and a splitter and after battling wildness in his first five games, over his last 20 games, 23.1 IP he's given up just three runs, just one earned, to post a 0.39 ERA. He's struck out 31 batters and walked 16 and hasn't given up a homer while allowing just a .167 Batting Average against. His overall strike rate is 60%.