Nelson was forced to leave Thursday's start against the Giants after taking a comebacker to his right wrist in the second inning, Jesse Friedman of GoPHNX.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Nelson worked two scoreless innings while allowing two hits before exiting. The nature of the injury is currently unclear, though he'll likely undergo an MRI or X-ray to determine the severity of the damage.

Nelson (1-2) earned the win over St. Louis on Saturday, allowing one run on seven hits and one walk while striking out four batters over six-plus innings.

EDGE Analysis

Nelson picked up his first victory and first quality start of the campaign with easily his best outing so far. The right-hander pitched into the seventh inning having thrown just 76 pitches but exited after giving up a single to Masyn Winn leading off the frame. Nelson gave up five runs (four earned) over 2.2 innings in his season debut April 1, but he's looked much better since then, surrendering four runs across his subsequent 11 frames.

Nelson (0-2) took the loss Sunday against Atlanta, giving up three runs on five hits and no walks across 5.0 innings. He struck out seven.

EDGE Analysis

Outside of solo homers allowed to Matt Olson and Michael Harris, Nelson held his own against one of MLB's top offenses. His strikeout total tied his career high, which was set in his first MLB appearance in September of 2022. While three runs over five innings won't quite right the ship after an awful debut, it's a step in the right direction for the 26-year-old, who's looking to improve upon his poor 5.31 ERA last season. However, he'll likely only have one more trip through the rotation with Jordan Montgomery shooting to join the big-league club as soon as April 19. As for now, Nelson is projected for a date with the Cardinals on Saturday.

Nelson (0-1) took the loss Monday against the Yankees, allowing five runs (four earned) on five hits and four walks across 2.2 innings. He struck out two.

EDGE Analysis

Nelson is in direct competition with Tommy Henry for the D-Backs' fifth rotation spot once Eduardo Rodriguez (lat) returns from the IL and had a golden opportunity to gain a leg up on Henry after Henry's five-run outing Saturday. However, Nelson faltered, handing out four free passes and failing to get out of the third inning. After logging a 5.31 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP in his first full season as a starter in 2023, Nelson's performance Monday didn't exactly instill confidence for an improved 2024 campaign. Nelson will face another tough test in his next projected start, which is scheduled to come Sunday at Atlanta.

Nelson will begin the season in the rotation, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Nelson earned the No. 5 starter job with an impressive spring training, during which he pitched to a 2.66 ERA while striking out 26 over 20.1 innings. His primary competition for the job, left-hander Tommy Henry, will also be part of the rotation early on, as he will replace Eduardo Rodriguez (lat). Nelson was knocked around over 27 starts in 2023, but he showed improved strike-throwing ability during Cactus League competition.

Nelson allowed one run on five hits and two walks while striking out nine over five innings in Friday's spring start against the Mariners.

EDGE Analysis

Nelson put the finishing touches on a promising spring. The right-hander finished the Cactus League with a 2.66 ERA, 26 strikeouts and seven walks over 20.1 innings (six starts). He led the competition for the final rotation spot and seems assured of one given the news that Eduardo Rodriguez (lat) will open the season on the injured list.

Nelson allowed one run on four hits and three walks while striking out three over 3.2 innings in Saturday's spring start against the Rangers.

EDGE Analysis

Nelson may have sewn up the fifth starter job with this effort. The three walks were the most he's allowed in five Cactus League starts, but he managed to work out of a bases-loaded jam in the second inning. He was pulled from the game in the fourth inning only to come back and start the fifth, giving him five up-and-downs and a pitch count of 78, per Michael McDermott of SI.com. Both Nelson and Tommy Henry will get one more spring start before a decision is made as to which one will fill out the rotation.

Nelson allowed one run on four hits and one walk while striking out two over 3.2 innings in Monday's spring start against the Athletics.

EDGE Analysis

Nelson kept pounding the strike zone, as the right-hander has done all spring, and he now sports a 3.09 ERA after four Cactus League starts. That includes just two walks and 14 strikeouts over 11.2 innings. The changeup was working Monday, per Jesse Borek of MLB.com, as Nelson elicited five whiffs on nine changeups. Nelson, who upped his pitch count to 66, has inched ahead of Tommy Henry to become Arizona's No. 5 starter.

Nelson allowed two runs on five hits and one walk while striking out two over three-plus innings in Tuesday's spring start against San Diego.

EDGE Analysis

Nelson navigated around traffic through the first three innings but hit a road bump in the fourth, when he was pulled without retiring a batter after giving up a two-run single. Nelson and Tommy Henry have been locked in a battle for the No. 5 starter job, and the two pitchers have mirrored each other. Both had impressive outings the first two starts before each faced adversity the third time out. Nelson has allowed three runs on nine hits and one walk while striking out 12 over eight innings.

Nelson worked on his slider over the offseason, and it's looked sharp early in camp, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Coming off Arizona's loss in the World Series, manager Torey Lovullo told Nelson that he needed to be able to throw his slider more and not be so fastball reliant. The right-hander focused on it and has looked good through two spring starts. Nelson threw two scoreless innings with five strikeouts in his first outing and followed that up with one run allowed and another five strikeouts over three innings Thursday. "It's a focus on trying to keep [opposing hitters] off balance, keep them guessing and make sure that they can't just key on the fastball," Nelson said. "When I'm just pumping heaters in there, it's pretty easy to lock in." The battle for the final spot in the rotation should come down to Nelson or Tommy Henry, who has also impressed through two Cactus League outings. Slade Cecconi is also in the mix but struggled Friday when he allowed two runs on five hits and a walk over two innings in his second appearance.