Or you are just seeing their real opinion of the player's future. Riley plays full time, but even with the investment they have made in Keith and their supposed faith in him as a hitter, he been allowed only 28 PA against LHP so far. Don't like that.
Maybe the team would claim that since he hasn't been off a great start they are trying to protect him, but it's still coming at a cost of him not getting to see that pitching.