Cancer survivors Bettis, Taillon to share mound Tuesday

When the Colorado Rockies and Pittsburgh Pirates play opposite each other on Tuesday, starting pitchers Chad Bettis and Jameson Taillon will share a special bond as they take the mound for their respective teams.

Both pitchers were diagnosed with and survived testicular cancer in 2017. The pair became close friends after they reached out to and stayed in touch with each other during their recoveries.

"We kind of went through the same thing," Bettis explained to MLB.com's Thomas Harding. "It will be fun. Not a lot of times throughout the game that it would happen."

The 29-year-old Bettis underwent surgery for his testicular cancer in November 2016 but was forced to have chemotherapy after the cancer spread to his lymph nodes. He recovered and was able to pitch again in the majors last August.

Taillon, 26, also underwent surgery after his cancer was discovered in May 2017. He was able to return to pitching just six weeks later.