Keller (oblique) nearing return to bolster Bucs

PITTSBURGH -- Through all the injuries their pitching staff has endured, the Pirates have seen a handful of pitchers step into bigger roles than they might have expected this season.

Chad Kuhl is embracing his breaking stuff and turning into more of a well-rounded starter. JT Brubaker seems to be developing into a capable starter. Geoff Hartlieb looks like a legitimate fireman out of the bullpen. Sam Howard didn’t even spend Summer Camp at PNC Park, but he’s now working high-leverage innings while striking out 29.5 percent of the hitters he’s faced.

But the Pirates have seen Mitch Keller, arguably the most important young pitcher in their organization, for only 7 2/3 innings this year.

Keller is working his way back from a strained left oblique. After throwing 35 pitches in two innings of live batting practice on Friday, the right-hander will throw another live BP session in the coming days, manager Derek Shelton said. Keller will likely be on track to rejoin the Pirates’ rotation after that, assuming he continues to feel healthy.

“The life on the fastball hasn't gone away. He's progressing really well. Breaking balls look sharp,” pitching coach Oscar Marin said on Saturday. “His stuff looks like he had really good life, and [his] breaking balls were really crisp. He’s progressing adequately to where we want him to go.”

Keller’s last outing took place on Aug. 1. This figured to be an important season for the 24-year-old, who graduated from his status as the club’s top prospect earlier this year. Keller was looking to prove that he’s a better pitcher than his surface-level stats a year ago might indicate, and the Pirates were excited to see him learn and develop under Marin.

Marin said on Saturday afternoon that he’s still pleased with the work Keller has been able to do this year, despite the injury.

"Before he had the injury, we were happy with how he was progressing. The [first] start he had in St. Louis, didn't have his best stuff, but he rolled five innings, limited that offense pretty well,” Marin said. “The whole thing about it was that was him pitching. ... We challenged him to change speeds, change eye levels, those types of things that he was able to do. We were really happy he progressed.”

Marin believes that process has continued during Keller’s recovery, in part because of the company he’s kept. When he’s been at the field over the last month, Keller has mostly spent his time with Jameson Taillon, who also threw live BP on Friday as part of his road back from Tommy John surgery.

“Him being on that rehab process with Jameson Taillon probably has been the best thing for him. They talk every single day. They watch the games together, and certain situations that come up during the games, they're talking about it,” Marin said. “I mean, what better influence to have than having Jamo with him? Those are the kind of things that have helped him out.”

Pirates raise cancer awareness
Saturday was “Childhood Cancer Awareness Day” throughout Major League Baseball. All on-field personnel wore gold ribbon decals and wristbands as the Pirates played the Reds at PNC Park. The club donated 100 Pirates-themed Starlight Hospital Gowns, specially designed to be more comfortable for children undergoing treatment, to Allegheny General Hospital.

MLB’s “Childhood Cancer Awareness Day,” held during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in collaboration with Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C), combined a visual and ceremonial demonstration of support for the cause with outreach to local hospitals treating young patients in their communities. Childhood cancer is the leading cause of death by disease among children in the United States and Canada.

The Pirates took it a step further this year, joining with Allegheny Health Network and AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh to host “Cancer Support Weekend.” The organization has been raising awareness and support for local nonprofit organizations and cancer survivors. Pittsburgh also asked fans to take photos with a “Hero Card,” including the name of a child battling cancer, so the club should share them throughout the weekend.

This weekend, Pirates Charities is making $5,000 donations to AHN Cancer Institute, Glimmer of Hope and Lending Hearts. Shelton has played a part, wearing a T-shirt from each organization during his pregame press conferences and encouraging fans to learn more about the work done by each in the fight against cancer.

Childhood cancer awareness efforts in previous seasons have included special pediatric cancer awareness batting-practice T-shirts, online campaigns to empower fans to hold fundraisers for pediatric cancer research and donations to local children’s hospitals. MLB and its clubs have supported the fight against cancer through a variety of initiatives for many years. As Stand Up To Cancer’s founding donor, Major League Baseball has pledged more than $50 million to SU2C’s collaborative cancer research programs, providing invaluable support. Launched in 2013, the work of the Stand Up To Cancer/St. Baldrick’s Foundation Pediatric Cancer Dream Team has helped to develop new immunotherapy approaches and contributed to the development of two new treatments for difficult-to-treat pediatric leukemias that have been approved by the FDA. MLB has recognized SU2C at its jewel events since the '09 World Series.

Around the horn
• The Pirates confirmed that they added pitching prospect Quinn Priester, their first-round Draft pick in 2019, to their 60-man player pool and added their No. 4 prospect to the alternate training site camp in Altoona, Pa., as reported on Thursday. The Bucs also announced that right-hander Jandel Gustave, who signed a Minor League deal with the club on Aug. 17, has reported to Altoona.

• Right-hander Carson Fulmer, who spent four days in the Pirates' bullpen but never pitched for the team, was claimed off waivers by the Orioles on Saturday. Fulmer was designated for assignment by Pittsburgh on Wednesday.

• After playing 14 innings during Friday’s doubleheader split, third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes was not in the lineup Saturday night vs. the Reds. Shelton said Hayes was available off the bench but, considering the time he missed during Summer Camp and his abbreviated ramp-up process in Altoona, the club is monitoring the 23-year-old’s workload during his introduction to the Majors.

“It’s more just the overall volume for him. [Sunday] we play a day game, then we’re off, play two, off," Shelton said. "So we’re going to get a chance to get him reset."