The Pirates are resting reliever Keone Kela because of his workload this season, particularly the high-leverage innings he pitched before being acquired at the non-waiver trade deadline July 31.
Kela, who saved 24 games for the Rangers this season, has not pitched since Sept. 3, and Clint Hurdle said he would not be available to pitch again Tuesday night against the Cardinals. The right-hander has pitched 52 innings this season, his most since he was a rookie in 2015, and 48 of his 52 appearances have occurred in the eighth or ninth inning.
With Kela unavailable, Edgar Santana pitched the eighth inning Monday night and allowed a go-ahead three-run homer to Matt Adams in an 8-7 loss. Hurdle told reporters Tuesday afternoon at Busch Stadium the Pirates have not decided how long they would rest Kela.
"All of it’s part of the package and the fact there’s all leverage innings this year," Hurdle said. "Everything’s been an eighth or ninth inning. It’s either setting a guy up for a save or, in Texas, it was nothing but saves. We’re just trying to be mindful of his development."
Kela, 25, was acquired for two minor leaguers — lefty pitcher Taylor Hearn and infielder Sherten Apostel — shortly after midnight on deadline day. He allowed one run over his first 14 innings with the Pirates, striking out 21 with five walks, before he blew a two-run lead against the Braves on Sept. 1.
Kela allowed four runs on three hits, including a leadoff home run by Dansby Swanson.
The Rangers gave Kela a break during spring training this season because of recurring soreness in his throwing shoulder. He went on the disabled list twice last season, missing 43 games, because of the same shoulder and had stem cell therapy in the offseason, according to The Dallas Morning News.
Kela also missed 76 games in 2016 because of a elbow impingement, and he pitched fewer than 40 innings in both 2016 and 2017. He became the Rangers' closer this season and is averaging 11.4 strikeouts per nine innings with a 1.09 WHIP. The Pirates, 71-72 and 11 games back in the wild-card race, are protecting their investment for next season.
In addition to the acquisition cost at the deadline, Kela is in line for a significant raise through arbitration and is under contract through 2020. They have Santana, Kyle Crick and Richard Rodriguez to handle high-leverage innings in front of Felipe Vazquez this month.