Merrill Kelly

Kelly was fortunate to give up just the one run. He allowed three hits, but he also walked four while picking up one strikeout. The Cubs were only to cash in with just the one run, however, so fantasy managers take a hit in WHIP but are helped in ERA and victory. Kelly will face the Yankees in New York next week, if the rotation order doesn't change for the D-Backs.

Kelly will be followed by Brandon Pfaadt and Eduardo Rodriguez to close out a four-game series against the Cubs. Marquee offseason addition Corbin Burnes takes the ball for Tuesday's showdown at Yankee Stadium before Opening Day starter Zac Gallen draws his second turn through the rotation.

That's the fifth game of the season, and Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly, Brandon Pfaadt, and Eduardo Rodriguez wills tart the first four games of the year versus the Cubs. The reason Burnes will be held back is so that he can stay on a five-day pitching schedule. To stay on that schedule, he'll throw a simulated game Wednesday. It's a little irritating that fantasy managers will have to wait four games to see him on the mound, but it's ultimately harmless.

Kelly allowed three hits, all of them fourth-inning solo homers. He struck out six. Kelly's velocity was up some in his first start of the spring, but it didn't last in subsequent outings, and he mostly seems like an option in deeper leagues. He'll make his first start Saturday at home against the Cubs.

Kelly struck out four and didn't hand out a free pass as he squared off against most of the Angels big-league regulars. The 36-year-old veteran doesn't miss a ton of bats and his ongoing durability concerns limit his fantasy appeal to extremely deep mixed leagues at this stage of his career.