Keller walked one in a hitless and scoreless ninth inning Saturday in a loss to Atlanta. He struck out one.
Considering closer Jhoan Duran (oblique) hit the injured list Saturday, Keller's usage in the ninth inning of a 3-1 game is noteworthy. Duran will miss at least two weeks of action, and Keller appears initially to be worthy of a speculative add for fantasy managers in search of saves. Keller has four holds through his first 8.2 innings, registering a 4.15 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 9:3 K:BB.
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Phillies' Jhoan Duran: Lands on IL
Rotowire
The Phillies placed Duran on the 15-day injured list Saturday with a left oblique strain, retroactive to Wednesday.
Duran has been dominant as the Phillies' closer to begin the year, posting a 1.35 ERA and 0.75 WHIP through 6.2 innings while tallying five saves. However, he hasn't pitched in a week due to his oblique injury and will now remain sidelined until at least April 30. Brad Keller and Jose Alvarado are the leading candidates to pick up saves while Duran is out, and Seth Johnson will come up from Triple-A to round out the bullpen.
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Phillies' Brad Keller: Preparing for setup role
Rotowire
Keller threw a clean first inning in Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against Detroit. He struck out one.
Keller needed only 11 pitches to retire the side in his spring debut, with his sinker topping out at 97.3 mph. The 30-year-old signed a two-year, $22 million contract with the Phillies over the winter, and Keller is preparing to serve as the primary right-handed setup man for closer Jhoan Duran in 2026, per Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia.
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Brad Keller: Interest as starter and reliever
Rotowire
Keller is drawing free-agent interest both as a starter and reliever, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.
Keller flourished with the Cubs in 2025 in a full-time relief role, collecting a 2.07 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 75:22 K:BB over 69.2 regular-season innings. He's a good bet to sign somewhere as a high-leverage reliever, but there are also clubs that think the 30-year-old could have success moving back to a starting pitcher role.
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Cubs' Brad Keller: Four-out save in Game 3
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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: Earns another save Tuesday
Rotowire
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.
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Cubs' Brad Keller: Converts one-out save
Rotowire
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.
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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.
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Cubs' Brad Keller: Could step in as new closer
Rotowire
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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Cubs' Brad Keller: Extends scoreless streak
Rotowire
Keller, who logged 1.1 scoreless innings in Sunday's loss to the Cardinals, has now recorded eight straight scoreless appearances.
Across those eight appearances, Keller has covered 9.1 innings and struck out 11 batters while allowing just one hit and two walks. It's been a great stretch for the veteran righty, who has been solid all season with a 2.63 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 8.9 K/9 across 51.1 innings out of the Chicago bullpen. Keller is firmly entrenched as one of the Cubs' top setup options ahead of closer Daniel Palencia.
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Cubs' Brad Keller: Struggles in first loss
Rotowire
Keller (3-1) allowed five runs on five hits in an inning of relief to take the loss Saturday against the Cardinals. He struck out one.
Keller struggled with the long ball, allowing a solo home run to Alec Burleson and a three-run shot to Yohel Pozo during the eighth inning. The rough outing -- the first time Keller has allowed any runs over his last seven appearances -- pushed Keller's ERA from 1.82 to 2.88. Even with the bad game, the veteran righty has been a key relief piece for the Cubs this season, posting a 1.16 WHIP and 38 strikeouts across 40.2 innings out of the bullpen.
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Cubs' Brad Keller: Nabs third win
Rotowire
Keller (3-0) worked around a hit to toss 1.2 scoreless innings and earn the win in Saturday's 10-7 victory over the Mariners. He struck out three.
After starter Cade Horton only covered 4.2 innings for the Cubs, the team turned to Keller for some length. The righty retired more than three batters for the seventh time this season in 33 appearances, and he lowered his ERA to a sparkling 2.00 in the process. Keller also has 36 strikeouts across 36 innings, as the former starter settles comfortably into a middle relief role.
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Cubs' Brad Keller: Tosses scoreless frame as opener
Rotowire
Keller started Saturday's 6-5 win over the Mets and tossed a scoreless inning with two strikeouts before exiting.
The veteran righty served as an effective opener before turning things over to Cade Horton, who logged four innings in his MLB debut to snag the win. Keller has pitched well lately, as he hasn't allowed an earned run over his last seven appearances, but he's maxed out at two innings in his longest outing. The former starter looks to be locked into a more traditional bullpen role in Chicago, but he seems to be thriving.
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Cubs' Brad Keller: Allows two runs in team debut
Rotowire
Keller allowed two runs on four hits over two innings of relief in Friday's 8-1 loss to the Diamondbacks. He struck out three.
Keller joined the Cubs over the winter on a minor-league deal, but he did enough in camp to warrant a look as a long reliever on the MLB roster. He was able to make his team debut in mop-up duty Friday, and while Arizona managed some solid contact, he at least tallied three strikeouts in his two frames. The righty figures to work mostly in low-leverage spots for Chicago, at least for the time being, giving him limited fantasy appeal.
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Cubs' Brad Keller: Added to roster
Rotowire
The Cubs selected Keller's contract from Triple-A Iowa on Thursday, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic reports.
Keller showed a bump up with his stuff this spring and he accrued a 13:2 K:BB over 11.2 innings. The veteran right-hander will likely work in long relief for the time being.
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Cubs' Brad Keller: Expected to make team
Rotowire
The Cubs are likely to add Keller to their major-league roster rather than allow him to exercise the opt-out clause in his minor-league contract, Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reports.
Keller has "opened eyes" in Cubs camp with his velocity jump and mechanical improvements, per Mooney, so the team doesn't want to let him get away. The big righty has allowed four runs with a 6:1 K:BB over seven innings during Cactus League play. Keller seems likely to serve in a long relief role initially for the Cubs.
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Red Sox's Brad Keller: Back with Boston again
Rotowire
The Red Sox re-signed Keller to a minor-league contract Friday, Chris Henrique of Beyond The Monster reports.
For the second time since mid-August, Keller has elected free agency, only to re-sign with Boston on a minor-league pact. He will report to Triple-A Worcester.
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Brad Keller: Elects free agency
Rotowire
Keller cleared waivers Thursday and elected to become a free agent.
Keller was cast off the Red Sox's 40-man roster Tuesday after turning in a 5.84 ERA and 1.62 WHIP across 24.2 innings with the team. The 29-year-old elected free agency and re-signed with the Red Sox on a minor-league deal when he was DFA'd by Boston earlier in the month, though Keller seems likely to head elsewhere this time around.
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Brad Keller: Becomes free agent
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Keller elected free agency Tuesday, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.
Keller's tenure in the big leagues afforded him the ability to decline an option to Triple-A Worcester and elect free agency, and the veteran right-hander has exercised that right and will move on from the Red Sox. He holds a 5.30 ERA and 30:13 K:BB over 37.1 innings at the big-league level in 2024.
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Red Sox's Brad Keller: Dispatched to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Red Sox optioned Keller to Triple-A Worcester on Monday, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.
Keller made one extended relief appearance during his most recent stint in the majors, allowing three runs over four frames and taking a loss against the Astros on Saturday. He will likely re-enter Worcester's rotation.
