What It Means:

The Royals want to cap Keller at 180 innings in his second season. He's already thrown 164 frames, up from 140 1/3 as a rookie. Kansas City skipper Ned Yost has also said the young right-hander won't throw more than 100 pitches in any of his remaining starts. Keller is toeing the rubber against the Oakland Athletics on Monday night and is scheduled for another home start on Sunday versus the Baltimore Orioles.

Keller is 7-13 in 27 starts. He owns a 3.95 ERA and 1.33 WHIP with 121 strikeouts and 67 walks over 164 innings.