No. 3 Merrill Kelly
2019 Stats: 13-14 with a 4.42 ERA, 158 strikeouts and a 1.315 WHIP
Kelly was the Arizona Diamondbacks workhorse last year, making 32 starts for the snakes, but that being said, his leash is probably the shortest of all the pitchers, especially with Leake and Young in the background waiting for their opportunity.
He has earned the right to stick it out in the rotation, but should his ERA continue to be high and also his WHIP, he could be traded or the team might move him to the bullpen. They might even consider sending him back to the minors.
No. 2 Robbie Ray
2019 Stats: 12-8 with a 4.34 ERA, 235 strikeouts and a 1.342 WHIP
Ray is obviously only in this position if he isn’t traded and I don’t think that’ll happen during the off-season. If it happens it will be before the trade deadline for the team to get another piece to help it contend.
Ray has been a staple in the rotation for a while but has yet been able to reproduce the numbers from his 2017 All-Star season. Again with several young starters and Leake waiting in the wings, should things go south I can easily see the team move on from Ray to see what they can get out of him.