Keller issued a walk and struck out two batters over 1.1 scoreless innings to pick up a save in Game 3 of the NLDS against the Brewers on Wednesday.
Keller walked Caleb Durbin on four pitches to load the bases upon entering the game before striking out Jake Bauers to pick up the final out of the eighth inning. The 30-year-old reliever then retired the side in order during the ninth to pick up his second save of the postseason and give the Cubs their first win of the NLDS.
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Cubs' Brad Keller: Notches save in Game 1
Rotowire
Keller tossed a perfect ninth inning to record the save in Tuesday's 3-1 victory over the Padres.
Daniel Palencia, the Cubs' regular-season saves leader, had already exited Tuesday's contest by the seventh inning, leaving Keller as the best available option to pitch the ninth. He froze Xander Bogaerts with a called third strike to collect his first career postseason save and put the finishing touches on a perfect 4.2-inning performance from Chicago's bullpen. Keller will likely continue to see regular high-leverage action for the duration of the Cubs' postseason run.
Keller tossed a scoreless ninth inning with two strikeouts to earn the save in Tuesday's 4-1 win over the Pirates.
After recording a one-out save Tuesday, Keller converted a more conventional opportunity a night later, giving him three saves for the season. With Daniel Palencia (shoulder) on the injured list, it was Andrew Kittredge who converted Chicago's first three save opportunities, but Keller now has the last two, with Kittredge working the seventh inning Tuesday. Expect manager Craig Counsell to keep mixing and matching with his veteran relievers to close out games while Palencia is on the shelf, giving Keller a temporary boost in fantasy value.
Keller struck out the only batter he faced to pick up the save in Monday's 4-0 win at Pittsburgh.
After Chicago reliever Porter Hodge loaded the bases with two out in the ninth, Keller stepped in to fire four pitches and strike out Jared Triolo to wrap the contest. This marks Keller's first save since Daniel Palencia (shoulder) was placed on the injured list Sept. 8, as Andrew Kittredge had collected three consecutive saves since then. Keller has been a revelation out of the bullpen for the Cubs this season, firing a 2.19 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 69:21 K:BB across 65.2 innings. While Kittredge is the odds-on favorite for future save chances, Keller remains in the mix because of his excellent work.
Cubs' Brad Keller: Snaps scoreless streak, takes loss
Rotowire
Keller (4-2) allowed a run on two hits and a walk across an inning of relief to take the loss Saturday against the Rays.
Keller worked the top of the ninth inning in a 4-4 game and promptly served up a go-ahead home run to Nick Fortes to take the loss. It was the first run allowed by the veteran righty since July 12, a streak of 22 appearances coming into Saturday. Keller still has a sparkling 2.20 ERA and 0.98 WHIP overall, and he should maintain a key role in Chicago's bullpen, though it appears that Andrew Kittredge is the next man up as closer with Daniel Palencia (shoulder) on the injured list.
Keller appears to be the likeliest candidate to take over as the Cubs' closer after Daniel Palencia (shoulder) was placed on the 15-day injured list Monday, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports.
Palencia's availability for the remainder of the season is in jeopardy while he recovers from a right shoulder strain. Keller has been a revelation out of the Cubs bullpen this season and has yet to permit a run over 20 second-half appearances, yielding a total of just three hits over that stretch. If manager Craig Counsell prefers to take a committee approach at closer while Palencia is out, Andrew Kittredge and Caleb Thielbar could also be in the mix for saves along with Keller.
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