Overview
- The Pirates announced Monday that an MRI revealed a teres major muscle injury in Keller’s right shoulder, and team doctors have barred him from throwing for six to eight weeks.
- Keller’s season is effectively over because the restriction on throwing extends past the regular season, removing a veteran starter from Pittsburgh’s rotation.
- Sunday’s start at Cincinnati produced two-plus innings, seven earned runs, four walks and two homers, a performance the team says led to reporting symptoms and the MRI.
- General manager Ben Cherington said the injury influenced the club’s roster moves before the trade deadline, including acquiring right-hander Lake Bachar and weighing internal options like Carmen Mlodzinski.
- Keller entered the season with mixed results and posted a 5.29 ERA through 22 starts, and the team views the shoulder injury as a likely explanation for his midseason decline and a setback to their wild-card hopes.