Only the venue will be new for JT Brubaker on Thursday at PNC Park when he makes the 100th start of his professional career — but his first in the major leagues.
Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton said Brubaker will take Mitch Keller’s spot in the rotation. Keller is on the injured list with left side discomfort.
Brubaker was used in relief twice this season, throwing five scoreless innings, with seven strikeouts and only one walk.
Because of Brubaker’s two previous short outings, Shelton isn’t expecting an extended start from his rookie right-hander.
“It will probably be a little bit dependent on how he’s pitching and how he feels,” Shelton said.
“We are definitely going to need innings (from the bullpen) because of the fact it’s not going to be a seven-inning (appearance), unless he can throw seven innings on 45 pitches, which I would sign up for in a heartbeat.”
He hasn’t yet designated a piggyback partner to relieve Brubaker at some point.
“With our bullpen, it’s going to be day to day,” Shelton said. “We have to wait until we get closer to actually make that decision.”
Brubaker missed most of last season with a right forearm strain, but has pitched well in the Pirates’ two training camps.
Brubaker, the Pirates’ sixth-round draft choice in 2015, has been almost exclusively a starter in the minors and at the University of Akron.
In five minor-league seasons, he has a 31-28 record with a 3.60 ERA and 1.301 WHIP. Before his injury, he pitched well in Triple-A (10-5/3.02/1.286) the past two seasons.
Keller left Saturday’s game against the Cubs in the third inning after he threw a 1-0 pitch wide and in the dirt to 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.
Shelton also said Keone Kela will be the closer when he returns to the roster. After previously testing positive for covid-19, Kela passed the protocols and has been working out at PNC Park. As part of his recovery, Kela must face live hitters, either at PNC Park or in Altoona.
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