Roster news: Colin Moran activated from IL; Mitch Keller heads to COVID IL

Another important Pirate makes his return to the team.

Manager Derek Shelton announced that the team activated 1B Colin Moran from the injured list.

Moran suffered a left groin injury on May 8 and recently completed a rehab stint at AAA Indianapolis.

The Pirates went 10-15 in the games Moran was injured. If you take away these past three games where Ke’Bryan Hayes was healthy, they were 7-15. It’s almost as if having two of your best players out hurts your team.

In a corresponding move, the team has sent starting pitcher Mitch Keller to the COVID injured list. Keller left Friday’s game early after just two innings of work for an undisclosed reason. His next start in the rotation would likely be scheduled for Thursday against the Dodgers, but that seems to be in jeopardy now.

In other roster moves, the team optioned INF Cole Tucker back to AAA Indianapolis and recalled relief pitcher Austin Davis from the injured list. Davis has yet to appear in a game this season for the Buccos.