Pirates' Mitch Keller injured, leaves game against Cubs in 3rd inning
The Pittsburgh Pirates lost another starting pitcher Saturday night when Mitch Keller left the game at Wrigley Field in the third inning.
Keller, who allowed home runs to Ian Happ and Javier Baez earlier in the inning, threw a 1-0 pitch wide and in the dirt to the Chicago Cubs’ Willson Contreras. Keller immediately summoned trainer Bryan Housand to the mound and appeared to be favoring his left side. The Pirates later confirmed Keller suffered left side discomfort.
After consulting with Housand, Keller left the game and was replaced by Chris Stratton.
Keller won his first start this season, 5-1, against the St. Louis Cardinals last Sunday.
The Pirates opened the season without starting pitchers Jameson Taillon (Tommy John surgery and Chris Archer (finger numbness).
Jerry DiPaola is a TribLive reporter covering Pitt athletics since 2011. A Pittsburgh native, he joined the Trib in 1993, first as a copy editor and page designer in the sports department and later as the Pittsburgh Steelers reporter from 1994-2004. He can be reached at jdipaola@triblive.com.
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