Ryne Nelson: Everything you need to know

Nelson took a no-decision Wednesday against the Rangers, allowing three runs on four hits and no walks in seven innings. He struck out eight. The 28-year-old right-hander submitted one of his finer starts of the campaign Wednesday, flooding the zone for 64 strikes on 88 pitches and producing 18 whiffs. Nelson also fanned a season-high eight, pitched a season-most seven innings and logged his second consecutive quality start after failing to attain this feat in his prior seven outings. Nelson still has a shaky 5.40 ERA over 45 frames, but he's also set to take a more encouraging 1.16 WHIP and 43:14 K:BB into a soft matchup versus the division-rival Giants his next time out.

Nelson didn't factor into the decision Friday against the Mets, allowing one run on two hits and one walk with seven strikeouts across 6.2 innings. It's the first time Nelson has gone at least six innings through eight starts this season, and he's now strung together back-to-back strong outings in May. He entered the month with a 7.71 ERA but has surrendered just two runs on six hits and three walks with 11 strikeouts across 12.1 innings over his last two starts. Nelson's lone mistake Friday was a solo homer allowed to Mark Vientos in the second inning. Nelson now owns a 5.68 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 35:14 K:BB across 38 innings on the year. Nelson has above-average stuff, highlighted by a 96.2 mph fastball and plus slider, and perhaps he'll be able to get his season on track following a second straight positive performance.

Nelson (1-3) allowed one run on four hits and two walks while striking out four batters over 5.2 innings in a loss to the Cubs on Saturday. Nelson pitched quite well, and the only run he gave up came on an Ian Happ solo homer in the second inning. However, the Diamondbacks' offense was completely shut down by a pair of Chicago hurlers, resulting in Nelson being saddled with the loss. Still, this was a promising bounce-back for the right-hander after he was pummeled for 14 runs over 5.1 frames across his previous two starts. Those disastrous performances are largely responsible for his ugly overall 6.61 ERA, but Nelson will try to build off Saturday's good outing when he next takes the mound, which is projected to be in a home matchup versus the Mets.