Nelson (0-1) took the loss against Atlanta on Thursday, allowing seven runs (two earned) on three hits and three walks while striking out three batters over 4.2 innings.

EDGE Analysis

Nelson fell behind quickly by allowing a solo home run to Matt Olson with two outs in the first inning. Another solo shot -- this time by Dominic Smith -- put Atlanta up 2-0 in the third, but it wasn't until the fifth frame that things really unraveled for Nelson. An error behind him on a potential inning-ending double play opened the floodgates, as Atlanta went on to score eight runs following the miscue. Fantasy managers who deployed Nelson at least didn't have their ERAs wrecked since all of the runs in the fateful fifth were unearned, but this was nonetheless an uninspiring performance by the right-hander, who also battled his control with three walks. Through two starts, Nelson has allowed 11 runs (six earned) with a poor 7:6 K:BB over 9.1 innings.

Nelson allowed four runs on two hits and three walks while striking out four over 4.2 innings in a no-decision versus the Dodgers on Friday.

EDGE Analysis

Nelson didn't give up much, but the Dodgers strung together a rally in the third inning. Alex Freeland tagged him for a solo home run and Mookie Betts added a three-run blast. Nelson threw 50 of 83 pitches for strikes in his season debut after working to a 3.18 ERA and 23:2 K:BB across 17 innings over five starts in spring training. He was a pleasant surprise in 2025 with a 3.39 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 132:41 K:BB over 154 innings across 33 appearances (23 starts) in the regular season. Nelson looks to be set as a full-time starter in 2026 and could eat his fair share of innings, but he doesn't have a lot of strikeout potential after a 7.7 K/9 last year. He is projected to make a home start versus Atlanta next week.

Nelson allowed four hits and struck out seven over five scoreless innings in Saturday's spring start against Texas.

EDGE Analysis

Nelson finished out the Cactus League in style. The right-hander recorded a 3.18 ERA with 23 strikeouts and two walks over 17 spring innings. Nelson will look to carry the good work into his next scheduled start March 27, the second game of the regular season against the Dodgers in Los Angeles.

Nelson allowed one run on four hits and one walk while striking out six over four innings in Monday's spring start against the Reds.

EDGE Analysis

Nelson upped his pitch count to 66 (39 strikes) in his fourth Cactus League start and will get one more outing in before the regular season. He sports a 4.50 ERA with 16 strikeouts and just two walks over 12 innings. Arizona manager Torey Lovullo hasn't set his rotation for the regular season beyond Zac Gallen on Opening Day, but Nelson should be among the top three.

Nelson allowed three runs one two hits and one walk while striking out four over 3.1 innings in Wednesday's spring start against the Athletics.

EDGE Analysis

Nelson was able to work his pitch count to 56 (37 strikes) and generated 10 whiffs but was also taken deep twice in his third Cactus League start. He was removed in the middle of one inning to ensure that he got a fourth up-and-down. The right-hander has allowed five runs while striking out 10 and walking one over eight spring innings.

Nelson allowed two runs on three hits and struck out three over 2.2 innings in Thursday's start against the Cubs.

EDGE Analysis

Nelson was knocked around in the first inning before settling in to retire the final seven batters he faced in his second Cactus League start. He upped his pitch count to 42 (30 strikes). "Honestly, it felt like the stuff was good," Nelson told Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports. "Pretty happy with how everything's coming out right now. Just got to clean a couple things up." The right-hander is looking to add more secondary offerings to complement the four-seamer that he threw 62 percent of the time in 2025. On Thursday, Nelson threw 20 four-seamers along with 11 cutters and nine curveballs.

Nelson struck out three over two hitless and scoreless innings in Friday's spring start against Seattle.

EDGE Analysis

Nelson breezed through all six batters faced in his Cactus League debut, throwing 25 pitches (17 strikes). As typical, he was efficient and relied heavily on his four-seamer, a pitch he threw 62 percent of the time in 2025. He also mixed in cutters (seven) and curveballs (three). "I feel good, honestly, about the pitch mix right now," Nelson told Jose M. Romero of the Arizona Republic. "It's probably the best I've felt this time of the year. Now just build up some endurance and some length." The right-hander added that he'd feel comfortable taking the ball Opening Day; the Diamondbacks must decide who will replace Merrill Kelly (back) for the regular-season opener March 26.

Nelson focused on getting physically stronger this offseason so that he can handle the rigors of 30 or more starts in 2026, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The right-hander has bounced between the rotation and bullpen the last three seasons but threw a career-high 154.0 innings in 2025. His first 10 appearances were out of the bullpen, before he shifted to the rotation in late May when Corbin Burnes required Tommy John surgery. With Burnes projected to be out until the second half of 2026, Nelson enters spring training with a guaranteed spot in the rotation, per general manager Mike Hazen. Nelson has relied heavily on his fastball but has also worked on his slider and curveball, and both pitches showed promise in 2025.

Nelson and the Diamondbacks agreed to a one-year, $3 million contract to avoid arbitration Thursday, Jack Sommers of DBacks on SI.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Nelson was arbitration eligible for the first time and is set for a $2.2 million raise from last season. He posted career-best results in 2025 and is poised to be a key member of Arizona's rotation for the upcoming campaign.

Nelson allowed three runs on seven hits and no walks while striking out nine batters over six innings in a no-decision against the Dodgers on Wednesday.

EDGE Analysis

Nelson got off to a rough start when Shohei Ohtani led off the game with a triple and Mookie Betts brought him home on a sacrifice fly. However, the right-hander did pretty well thereafter, giving up just two more runs (on a homer by Andy Pages in the fourth inning). Nelson thus notched his sixth quality start over his past seven outings and also set a new season-high mark with nine strikeouts. Nelson has been a bit of a revelation this year -- if this was his final regular-season appearance, he'll finish with a 3.39 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 132:41 K:BB over 154 innings spanning 33 outings (23 starts).