Prior to Tuesday night’s game in Cincinnati, the Pittsburgh Pirates optioned right-handed pitcher Mitch Keller to Indianapolis. Right-handed pitcher Richard Rodriguez, who was serving as the 26th man during yesterday’s doubleheader, will remain with the team.
Keller made his big league debut last night and allowed six runs in the first inning, before retiring ten of the final 11 batters he faced. He picked up seven strikeouts in four innings of work.
Rodriguez ended up pitching in both games of the doubleheader last night. While most 26th men return to the minors, he’s eligible to remain with the Pirates because he was down for at least (exactly in his case) ten days since being sent down, otherwise he would have needed to return to Indianapolis.