Dallas

Keuchel

Keuchel last pitched 40 innings in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball, registering a 3.60 ERA and 29/15 K/BB ratio. The 37-year-old had a workout with multiple teams last week and was up to 92 mph on his fastball, which likely means he was sitting closer to 90 mph. He’ll start at Triple-A Omaha and could be insurance for the Royals with Cole Ragans still on the injured list with a groin injury. When Ragans returns, Keuchel would likely be the seventh starter for the Royals with both Kyle Wright and Alec Marsh battling injuries of their own. If Keuchel gets to the big leagues, he would make $2 million prorated.

The news got lost in the shuffle of the trade deadline a couple weeks ago, but Keuchel finally made his NPB debut on Friday evening, allowing two runs over five innings, while sitting only 86-88 mph with his sinker. The 36-year-old veteran is attempting to continue his career overseas in Japan following an underwhelming four-start stint earlier this year with the Brewers.

Keuchel has declined the assignment and become a free agent. The 36-year-old lefty had a 5.40 ERA in four starts for the Brewers before being dropped on Sunday.

Keuchel was ineffective after being acquired from the Mariners in a trade with a 5.40 ERA over his 16 2/3 innings, and he allowed three runs over three frames against the Nationals on Saturday. He’ll hit the waiver wire, and he can either elect free agency or report to Triple-A if he isn’t claimed or traded.

Keuchel gave up eight hits, walked none and struck out two. He was handed a 5-0 lead, but in the fourth inning he allowed an RBI single to Harold Ramirez, an RBI double to Ildemaro Vargas, and an RBI single to Riley Adams. Keuchel allowed five straight hits to start the inning before he was removed. He’ll take a 5.40 ERA and 11 strikeouts in 16 2/ 3 innings into the All-Star break.

The 36-year-old southpaw also allowed three hits and didn’t strike out a batter in the contest. The five walks led to an elevated pitch count of 94 (42 strikes) through 4 1/3 innings, which cost Keuchel a shot at earning a victory in this one. He got just five swings and misses on the afternoon while registering a miserable CSW of only 21 percent. He’ll look to finish the first half strong as he carries a 4.61 ERA, 1.68 WHIP and a 9/8 K/BB ratio (13 2/3 innings) into Saturday’s matchup against the Nationals.

The 36-year-old southpaw racked up five strikeouts on the evening while issuing a pair of free passes. All of the damage done against him came in the second inning as Brenton Doyle slugged a solo homer and Michael Toglia added a sacrifice fly. Aside from that though, Keuchel was terrific at Coors Field. He got eight swings and misses on 78 pitches in the ballgame, posting a CSW of 23 percent. Keuchel will attempt to further improve upon his 6.75 ERA and 1.61 WHIP when he takes on the Dodgers in Los Angeles on Sunday.

Nine of the 16 balls in play against Keuchel were hit hard, and two were homers, with Nathaniel Lowe and Jonah Heim taking him deep in back-to-back at-bats in the fourth. Keuchel has given up 92 earned runs in 102 1/3 major league innings since the beginning of 2022.

Keuchel will start against the Rangers today in his Brewers debut. The former Cy Young Award winner was 7-4 with a 3.93 ERA for Triple-A Tacoma before the Brewers picked him up from the Mariners yesterday.

The trade is now official. Keuchel signed a minor league contract with the Mariners back in late May and will replace rookie Carlos Rodriguez in Milwaukee’s injury-ravaged starting rotation. The 36-year-old southpaw made 10 appearances (six starts) last year for the Twins and has pitched well this season in the minors with a solid 3.93 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 45/22 K/BB ratio across 71 innings (13 starts) in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League. The lack of strikeout upside severely limits his fantasy appeal, but he’s going to get an extended run with the Brewers for now.