Top pitching prospect Mitch Keller (5-0, 3.45 ERA) will make his MLB debut in the second game of Monday’s doubleheader vs the Cincinnati Reds, the Pirates officially announced this afternoon. It’s a route the Pirates brass has been hoping to avoid until at least late June but a starting rotation rocked with injuries finally forced the Pirates hand. It’s expected to only be a one game stint for Keller in the Majors but Keller could change that plan if he were to shine vs the Reds as it would be a PR mess for the organization to send Keller right back down if he’s anything short of a disaster.

The rotation for the four game set vs the Reds will be Nick Kingham, Mitch Keller, Jordan Lyles and Steven Brault. The Pirates throwing Kingham (8.76 ERA) and Brault (7.11 ERA) back out there is as depressing as it can get for Pirate fans.