D-backs reliever Stefan Crichton was looking for his second career save Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. Standing in his way? Only Mike Trout, Anthony Rendon and Albert Pujols.

Yikes.

So what did he tell himself when he took the mound?

“It was, ‘OK, relax,' and then don't look at that person in the face,” Crichton said. “Because it's like the second you look up, it's like, 'Holy crap, that's Mike Trout, or that's Albert Pujols there.' I mean, I remember watching Pujols. I'm from Houston so watching him back in like 2003 you know [homering] off of Brad Lidge. He was like a god to me. So it was it was certainly just trying to keep it in the moment and not make a big deal out of it.”

Crichton got all three hitters to fly out to preserve the D-backs' 9-8 victory.

After the D-backs traded closer Archie Bradley to the Reds on Aug. 31, Kevin Ginkel got the first couple of save chances. Ginkel was recently optioned to the club’s alternate site, and it’s Crichton that appears to be the de facto closer, a role that he enjoys.

“Getting it done is pretty good feeling,” Crichton said. “The anxiety or the nervousness that kind of leads up to it, and then being able to come out on the other side and doing your job is pretty gratifying.”

Kelly should be ready for next year
Right-hander Merrill Kelly, who underwent thoracic outlet surgery last week, said he’s been told he should be a full-go once Spring Training gets underway next year.

Kelly had a blood clot dissolved in his shoulder first and then it was determined that he also needed to have thoracic outlet surgery, which involves the removal of a rib.

“First of all, I definitely feel a lot better,” said Kelly, who had his first day of rehab work Wednesday. “The fact that I look at my arm and it’s not swollen and purple, first and foremost, that’s the biggest thing for me. Obviously hearing I had a blood clot in my shoulder, out of this whole experience, was by far the scariest part. At 31 years old, you aren’t expecting to hear that news, that was kind of a shock.”

Speaking of Spring Training
The D-backs released their 33-game Spring Training schedule for 2021 and it includes 15 home games and two “road” games at Salt River Fields.

The D-backs open their spring slate against the Rockies on Feb. 27 at Salt River Fields.

Two games at Chase Field on March 29 and 30 against a yet-to-be-determined opponent will wrap up their exhibition schedule.

The D-backs will open the 2021 regular season April 1 against the Padres in San Diego.