Notes: Kelly off IL, Weaver stays in rotation

Like the rest of his teammates, D-backs pitcher Merrill Kelly would just as soon forget about the past three days in Miami.

Kelly was activated from the injured list Friday after being placed there Tuesday and the right-hander is scheduled to start Saturday against the Mets at Citi Field.

The club did not say why Kelly had been out and he didn't provide many details.

"As you guys probably deduce or figured out, I just kind of got caught up in a [COVID] protocol issue," Kelly said. "Just needed a couple days to kind of iron itself out. But the point is that it's done with. I'm going to make my start [Saturday] and that's really what matters to me. Just moving on from the last couple days. You know, Miami didn't go well for me or for the team."

The D-backs were swept in the three-game series with the Marlins.

Rest of the rotation

There are no changes to the Arizona rotation this time around with Kelly starting Saturday and Riley Smith on Sunday.

D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said that after discussions with a number of people, the decision was made to keep Luke Weaver in the starting rotation and he should get the ball Monday when the team hosts the Marlins.

"I've had a lot of good conversations with him and everybody around me, and I feel like at this point in time, he gives us the best chance to win a baseball game," Lovullo said. "Once again, much of the same as I've told you guys over the past couple of days, everybody's evaluated on their performance every single night."

Over his last four starts, Weaver has allowed 17 runs in 17 innings.

Lovullo said the key for Weaver is fastball command.

Marte progressing

D-backs outfielder Ketel Marte remains at the team's Salt River Fields facility where he's been able to get some at-bats as he works his way back from a strained right hamstring.

Marte has done some running, mostly straight ahead but he's also done some "arcs and curves" according to Lovullo.

"I know that he's getting close," Lovullo said. "He’s feeling very, very good."

Duplantier with team

Right-hander Jon Duplantier is part of the team's taxi squad for this road trip. Duplantier threw a simulated game recently where he got up to 68 pitches and 5 1/3 innings.

The team has been working to get him stretched out as a starter after he was injured during Spring Training.