Nelson allowed a run on three hits and a walk while striking out two over five innings in a no-decision versus the Dodgers on Tuesday.

EDGE Analysis

Nelson made his second start of the year and kept a dangerous offense mostly in check, outside of allowing an RBI double to Will Smith in the fourth inning. With Eduardo Rodriguez (shoulder) on the injured list, Nelson appears to have a chance to reclaim a starting role for a while. He threw 71 pitches (40 strikes) in this start and will need to stretch out after spending much of the early part of the season in a long-relief role. Nelson has mustered a 4.60 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 30:11 K:BB across 31.1 innings over 11 appearances this season. He is tentatively projected for a favorable home start versus the Pirates early next week.

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.

EDGE Analysis

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.

Nelson struck out one over two perfect innings to earn the save in Saturday's 3-0 win over the Dodgers.

EDGE Analysis

Nelson's last 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.

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.

EDGE Analysis

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.

Nelson will draw the start Monday versus the Mets in Arizona, Jody Jackson of Bally Sports Arizona reports.

EDGE Analysis

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. Nelson has yet to make a start in 2025, posting a 5.82 ERA and 1.18 WHIP with 20 strikeouts over 17 innings in seven appearances out of the bullpen. The right-hander pitched four scoreless innings, allowing two walks while striking out three batters against the Mets on April 29.

Nelson walked two and struck out three over four hitless and scoreless innings in Tuesday's 8-3 loss to the Mets.

EDGE Analysis

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.

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.

EDGE Analysis

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.

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.

EDGE Analysis

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.

Nelson allowed one hit while striking out two over 2.1 scoreless innings in Thursday's 9-7 loss to the Yankees.

EDGE Analysis

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."

EDGE Analysis

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.