D-backs right-hander Merrill Kelly displayed an uptick in velocity Friday afternoon in his first Cactus League appearance of the spring against the Royals. After averaging 92 mph last year with his two and four-seam fastballs,

The Royals will trot out left-hander Kris Bubic. Though traditionally a starter, he worked all of 2024 in relief, making 27 appearances and pitching to an excellent 2.67 ERA and 1.95 FIP while striking out 11.57 hitters per nine innings.