Keller (shoulder) threw a live BP session Friday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Keller went on the injured list May 19 and resumed mound work a week later. He may need a couple more bullpen or batting practice sessions as he recovers from right shoulder impingement syndrome. It has yet to be determined if he'll require a rehab assignment.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Brad Keller: Beginning mound work Saturday
Rotowire
Keller (shoulder) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Saturday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
It will be Keller's first mound workout since he went on the injured list due to right shoulder impingement syndrome. There is currently no timeline for his return to the Royals' rotation, but he does seem to be headed in a positive direction following a brief shutdown period.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Brad Keller: Placed on 15-day IL
Rotowire
Kansas City placed Keller on the 15-day injured list Friday, retroactive to May 16, with right shoulder impingement syndrome.
Keller issued a whopping eight walks over just 3.2 innings in his last turn through the Royals' starting rotation Monday against the Padres. He's at 40 walks through 43.1 total innings this year. There is no timetable yet for the 27-year-old right-hander's return.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Brad Keller: Struggles with command again
Rotowire
Keller (3-4) was the pitcher of record in Monday's 4-0 loss to the Padres after allowing three runs on three hits and eight walks over 3.2 innings. He struck out two.
Keller nearly walked as many batters as he retired Monday. The free passes have been a major problem for Keller, as he now leads MLB with 40 walks on the season. Amazingly Keller's ERA is 4.36 despite all the walks. However his FIP is 5.39, a career high, suggesting his luck will run out soon if he doesn't locate the zone.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Brad Keller: Picks up win versus White Sox
Rotowire
Keller (3-3) got the win Wednesday against the White Sox, allowing one run on three hits and four walks while striking out four over five innings.
Keller was given an early four-run cushion and was able to coast through his outing without much cause for concern. His lone blemish came in the second inning after a leadoff walk and two singles plated the only run of the game for the Sox. Keller continued to show struggles with his command as he walked at least four batters for the sixth time in eight starts, but he's generated a bunch of weak contact and has allowed just three home runs so far this season. The 27-year-old will take a 4.31 ERA, 1.76 WHIP and 29:32 K:BB over 39.2 innings into his next projected start against the Padres.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Brad Keller: Handed third loss
Rotowire
Keller (2-3) allowed seven runs (six earned) on 11 hits and four walks over 4.1 innings Friday. He struck out one and took a loss against Oakland.
The Athletics jumped on Keller early in the contest; he gave up a run in the first inning before serving up back-to-back homers to Brent Rooker and Ramon Laureano in the third. Keller would later be charged with three more runs in the ugly outing. His season ERA jumped to 4.67 and he's recorded more walks (28) than strikeouts (25) through 34.2 frames. Keller is projected to take on the White Sox at home next week.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Brad Keller: Escapes with no-decision Saturday
Rotowire
Keller didn't factor into the decision in Saturday's 3-2 win over the Twins, allowing one run on six hits and five walks over 5.1 innings. He struck out four.
The right-hander also uncorked two wild pitches and exited the game after getting only 49 of his 92 pitches over the plate, but Minnesota's hitters let Keller off the hook for all the traffic he put on the basepaths. That's been the story of his season so far, however -- the 27-year-old sports a 3.56 ERA and has given up two runs or less in four of his six starts thanks in large part to serving up only one homer in 30.1 innings, but his 24:24 K:BB and 4.78 FIP indicate that major regression could be coming. Keller will hope his luck holds in his next outing, likely to come next weekend at home against the A's.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Brad Keller: Turns in mediocre performance
Rotowire
Keller did not factor into the decision Monday, allowing four runs on four hits and six walks over four innings against the Diamondbacks. He struck out two.
Keller has now lasted just four innings in each of his last two starts. In fact, the right-hander has completed six innings only once across his five appearances this year. The struggling Royals desperately need the 27-year-old to give them more length on a consistent basis, in order to preserve their bullpen. The veteran is tentatively slated to face the Twins on the road in his next start.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Brad Keller: Lasts only four innings in loss
Rotowire
Keller (2-2) was handed the loss Tuesday against the Rangers, allowing three runs on three hits and five walks over four innings. He struck out two.
There was a night-and-day difference between Tuesday's outing and Keller's outing against the Rangers last Wednesday. He struggled mightily to find the zone this time around and it cost him, as all three runs he gave up were from batters that got on base via a walk. Keller got pulled after 81 pitches, which was his lowest mark in four starts this season. Keller can be streamed in appealing matchups, but his volatility makes him a risky play in any given start.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Brad Keller: Tallies seven punchouts in victory
Rotowire
Keller (2-1) earned the win over Texas on Wednesday, allowing one run on three hits and one walk while striking out seven batters over 6.2 innings.
Keller served up a solo homer to Nate Lowe in the first inning, but that was the only time the Rangers got on the board against him. The right-hander completed a season-high 6.2 frames to notch his first quality start of the campaign and also tallied a season-best seven punchouts. Keller has been solid so far in 2023, allowing two or fewer runs in each of his three outings and compiling a 2.12 ERA and 1.12 WHIP through 17 frames.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Brad Keller: Picks up first win
Rotowire
Keller (1-1) yielded one run on three hits and three walks over 5.2 innings Friday, striking out three and earning a win over San Francisco.
Keller coughed up a run in the second frame but Friday's outing was mostly smooth sailing otherwise. He didn't allow a runner to reach scoring position in any other inning. The 27-year-old righty has allowed three runs through two starts to begin the year but has also registered an unsightly 9:7 K:BB. Keller is projected for a road matchup against the Rangers next week.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Brad Keller: Walks four in loss
Rotowire
Keller (0-1) took the loss Sunday against the Twins, allowing two runs on five hits and four walks over 4.2 innings. He struck out six.
Keller threw only 50 of his 88 pitches for strikes as he struggled with his command, though he was able to hold Minnesota to just two runs. The 27-year-old had a 3.7 BB/9 last season, and the four walks Sunday aren't a good indication he'll be much better in that regard during 2023. The right-hander is tentatively slated to next take the mound Friday in San Francisco.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Brad Keller: Strong in last spring start
Rotowire
Keller allowed five hits and walked one while striking out nine over five scoreless innings in Friday's Cactus League win over the Giants.
Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports Keller will pitch during the Royals' first regular-season series against the Twins, so Friday was likely his last spring appearance. Keller posted a 4.95 ERA and 1.40 WHIP over 20 innings across six starts in Cactus League play. He's posted an ERA north of 5.00 over the last two seasons, but he'll get a chance in the rotation again after finishing out 2022 in the bullpen.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Brad Keller: Retools curveball
Rotowire
Keller worked on adjusting his curveball during the offseason, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Keller is competing for a rotation spot this spring. He's needed to make some improvements after posting ERAs of 5.39 and 5.09 over the last two seasons. He ended 2022 in a relief role, and the competition from veterans and prospects alike makes a return to a starting role challenging. Keller hasn't often used a curveball before, but adding one to his repertoire could give him a new look to test hitters as he tries to produce a bounce-back campaign.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Brad Keller: Avoids arbitration
Rotowire
Keller signed a one-year, $5.775 million contract with the Royals on Friday to avoid arbitration, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
Keller is coming off back-to-back dreadful seasons, even getting demoted to the bullpen at one point in 2022. The Royals will hope he can bounce back in his walk year and perhaps boost his value enough that they can flip him for a prospect at the trade deadline.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Brad Keller: Takes loss Saturday
Rotowire
Keller (6-14) took the loss Saturday versus the Mariners, allowing a run on four hits and two walks over 1.1 innings.
Keller got a double play to escape a bases-loaded jam in the eighth inning, but the Mariners posted three straight one-out hits in the ninth to scrape together the go-ahead run. The Royals couldn't bail Keller out, sending him to his first loss as a reliever in 11 appearances. He's pitched to a 6.46 ERA, 2.09 WHIP and 15:10 K:BB while adding a save and a hold in 15.1 innings out of the bullpen, and he's unlikely to see enough high-leverage chances to make an impact in fantasy.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Brad Keller: First career save
Rotowire
Keller struck out two without allowing a baserunner in a scoreless ninth inning to earn the save Thursday against the Twins.
Keller entered the game with a three-run lead and didn't allow a ball out of the infield to record his first career save. Scott Barlow was likely unavailable after pitching both Tuesday and Wednesday, which gave Keller the spare opportunity. Since shifting to the bullpen Aug. 17, Keller has a disastrous 6.43 ERA with a 15:8 K:BB across 14 frames.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Brad Keller: Moving to bullpen
Rotowire
Manager Mike Matheny said Wednesday that Keller will move to the bullpen, Joel Goldberg of Bally Sports Kansas City reports.
Keller has served exclusively as a starter in the majors over the last four seasons but has struggled since the All-Star break in 2022. Over his five starts to begin the second half, he's posted an 8.76 ERA and 2.07 WHIP in 24.2 innings. He had lined up to start Thursday's road matchup against the Rays, and the Royals haven't announced who will take his place in the rotation. However, Keller will attempt to sort things out as a relief option.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Brad Keller: Shelled by Dodgers
Rotowire
Keller (6-13) took the loss against the Dodgers on Saturday, allowing eight runs on nine hits and three walks while striking out three batters over three innings.
Mookie Betts led off the game by tagging Keller for a homer, and that proved to be an omen of things to come. The right-hander gave up four more runs in the frame and served up an additional long ball in each of the second and third innings before mercifully being replaced. By the time he departed, Keller had given up eight runs -- the second time in his past three starts that he's surrendered that amount. He's lost four of his past five outings, posting an 8.76 ERA and 2.07 WHIP across 24.2 innings during that stretch.
... See More... See Less
Royals' Brad Keller: Halts losing streak
Rotowire
Keller (6-12) allowed one run on four hits and three walks over six innings Sunday, striking out four and earning a win over Boston.
Keller didn't face much of a threat through five shutout frames before Rafael Devers tagged him with a solo shot in the sixth. It was his first win since July 11 after allowing 16 runs (15 earned) over his previous three starts. The 27-year-old righty lowered his season ERA to 4.45 with an 80:44 K:BB through 119.1 frames. Keller is lined up for a tough matchup against the Dodgers at home next week.
