Pirates' Mitch Keller: Gets little help again in loss
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Keller (1-5) took the loss Tuesday as the Pirates fell 2-1 to the Mets, giving up two runs on five hits and a walk over seven innings. He struck out eight.
The strikeouts were a season high for Keller, who delivered his second straight quality start and sixth of the campaign on 96 pitches (65 strikes), including 32 called or swinging strikes. The right-hander hasn't gotten into the win column since March 28 due to consistently poor offensive support -- the Bucs have scored only 15 runs combined in his last seven trips to the mound, a stretch in which he's posted a 3.40 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 35:11 K:BB over 42.1 innings. Keller lines up to make his next start at home early next week against the Reds.
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Pirates' Mitch Keller: Stuck with loss in quality start
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Keller (1-4) took the loss Wednesday as the Pirates fell 5-0 to the Cardinals, giving up three runs on seven hits and three walks over six innings. He struck out six.
The right-hander delivered his fifth quality start of the season on 94 pitches (58 strikes), including 30 called or swinging strikes. Keller has allowed more than three runs only twice in eight trips to the mound to begin the season, leaving him with a 4.40 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 35:15 K:BB through 45 innings, but a lack of run support has kept him out of the win column since March 28. He faces a tough test in his next start, which is scheduled to come on the road early next week against the Mets.
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Pirates' Mitch Keller: Struggles against Padres
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Keller (1-3) allowed five runs (four earned) on eight hits and one walk while striking out three across five innings to take the loss Friday against the Padres.
Keller worked in and out of trouble through three innings, but he kept the Padres scoreless. Things fell apart for him from there, with all five of his runs coming in his final two innings of work. Keller has never been a dominant pitcher, but his strikeout rate has dipped to 16.8 percent this season -- the lowest of his career -- which has led to inconsistent results. In seven starts to this point in the campaign, he has recorded four or fewer punchouts on five occasions.
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Pirates' Mitch Keller: Provides another quality start
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Keller didn't factor in the decision Saturday against the Dodgers after allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits and a walk over six innings. He struck out six.
The right-hander delivered 65 of his 89 pitches in the zone and had 21 called strikes as he kept Los Angeles in check, though he didn't generate much swing-and-miss with just six whiffs. Keller hasn't picked up a win since Opening Day, but he's pitching well lately with a 2.59 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 18:6 K:BB in 24.1 frames across his past four starts.
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Pirates' Mitch Keller: Yields two runs in no-decision
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Keller did not factor into the decision Sunday against the Guardians, pitching five two-run innings while allowing five hits and two walks. He struck out three.
The Pittsburgh right-hander fired 101 pitches in this outing, as he limited the Cleveland lineup to just one extra-base hit. The only blemish on Keller's afternoon was a two-run homer cracked by Steven Kwan in the third inning. After 28 innings, Keller now sports a 4.18 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 20:10 K:BB. The 29-year-old is currently scheduled to make his next start against the fearsome Dodgers on the road next weekend.
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Pirates' Mitch Keller: Takes loss in quality start
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Keller (1-2) yielded three runs on six hits and two walks over six innings Tuesday, striking out three and taking a loss against Washington.
Keller served up a leadoff homer to James Wood to begin the night but then held the Nationals scoreless until Nasim Nunez's two-run single in the sixth inning. It was Keller's third quality start in four outings this season, but the three punchouts were his lowest total to date. He tossed 67 of 105 pitches for strikes but generated only eight whiffs. Keller now owns a 4.30 ERA with a 17:8 K:BB through 23 innings. He's currently in line for a home matchup against Cleveland this weekend.
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Pirates' Mitch Keller: Bounces back by blanking Cards
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Keller didn't factor into the decision in Wednesday's 2-1 extra-innings win over the Cardinals, allowing four hits and a walk over 7.1 scoreless innings. He struck out six.
The right-hander got lit up by the Yankees in his last start for seven runs in 3.2 frames, but Keller bounced back with one of the sharpest performances of his career as he fired 64 of 96 pitches for strikes before exiting. The game's first runs didn't score until the 12th inning, however, and Joey Bart finally ended it with a walk-off single in the bottom of the 13th. Keller has two quality starts in three trips to the mound to begin the season, and he'll take a 4.24 ERA and 14:6 K:BB through 17 innings into his next outing, which is scheduled to come at home early next week against the Nationals.
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Pirates' Mitch Keller: Crushed by Yankees
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Keller (1-1) took the loss Friday versus the Yankees, allowing seven runs on eight hits and four walks while striking out four over 3.2 innings.
He kept the ball in the yard for the second start in a row, but Keller didn't have much success anywhere else. The Yankees were able to tag him for multiple runs in the second, third and fourth innings to send him to his first loss. Keller has added an 8:5 K:BB with eight runs allowed over 9.2 innings. Wins will be tough enough to come by while pitching for the Pirates, but Keller should be able to take care of business against weaker offenses, making him a reasonable low-end fantasy starter. He's projected to make his next start at home versus the Cardinals.
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Pirates' Mitch Keller: Picks up win over Miami
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Keller (1-0) picked up the win Friday against the Marlins, striking out four over six innings of work while allowing five hits, one walk and one run.
Keller was in control for the most part and picked up a quality start. The 28-year-old retired 10 Marlins in a row at one point before allowing his only run of the outing, an RBI double off the bat of Graham Pauley. Keller posted a respectable 4.25 ERA to go with a 1.30 WHIP in 2024 and begins 2025 as Pittsburgh's No. 2 starter. The right-hander is lined up for a road start against the Rays his next time out.
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Pirates' Mitch Keller: Shaky in Monday's outing
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Keller allowed four runs (three earned) on four hits and three walks across 3.1 innings in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Orioles.
Keller has been shaky this spring, as he maintained only a 5:4 K:BB across his first 8.2 innings despite allowing only one earned run. Things unraveled for him further Monday, as he was pulled partway through the second innings after throwing 26 pitches in the frame while managing just two outs. Keller re-entered the game and recovered, but it hasn't been a standout exhibition season for him to this point.
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Pirates' Mitch Keller: Drops third straight
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Keller (11-12) took the loss Thursday against the Brewers, allowing three runs on six hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out six.
Keller got off to a solid start, holding Milwaukee to one run through his first four innings, before giving up two more in the fifth. The 28-year-old Keller would ultimately take his third straight loss and fifth in his last six outings. After an encouraging start to the year, Keller faded down the stretch, posting a 7.29 ERA in his final nine starts (45.2 innings). Keller will wrap up the season with a 4.25 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 166:50 K:BB across 178 innings.
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Pirates' Mitch Keller: Gives up eight in loss
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Keller (11-11) took the loss Friday against Cincinnati, allowing eight runs on seven hits and five walks over 3.1 innings. He struck out one.
It was a rough night for Keller, who issued a season-high five walks while taking his fourth loss in his last five outings. The 28-year-old has gone 1-6 with a 5.68 ERA in 11 starts since the All-Star break. Overall, Keller sports a 4.21 ERA on the year with a 1.29 WHIP and 160:48 K:BB across 173 innings. He'll look to end the campaign on a better note in his final start, currently lined up for next week at home versus the Brewers.
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Pirates' Mitch Keller: Let down by bullpen Saturday
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Keller allowed two runs on seven hits and no walks while striking out eight batters over six innings in a no-decision against Washington in the nightcap of Saturday's doubleheader.
Keller had been struggling coming into Saturday, losing four of his previous five starts and posting a 7.46 ERA and 1.66 WHIP while serving up seven homers over 25.1 innings during that span. The right-hander turned things around with an effective outing against the Nationals, notching just his second quality start across his past seven appearances and keeping the ball in the park in addition to racking up eight punchouts. Keller departed with a 4-2 lead, but Pittsburgh's bullpen gave up six runs over the final three innings to stick him with a no-decision. Keller has just one victory over 10 starts since the All-Star break, though he's posted a strong 51:15 K:BB in 52.1 innings during that stretch.
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Pirates' Mitch Keller: Allows three homers in loss
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Keller (11-9) took the loss Sunday, allowing four runs (three earned) on 11 hits in 5.1 innings against the Guardians. He struck out seven.
Keller's control was on point throughout, as he reached seven punchouts for just the second time in his last 11 starts while not walking a batter for the second time in nine outings. Additionally, his 3.15 pitches per plate appearance was significantly below the league average of 3.88. However, he also allowed 12 baserunners, including a hit batsman and season highs in base hits and homers allowed. Keller entered August with a 10-5 mark and following his first outing of the month, he was sitting with an impressive 3.20 ERA for the season. Since then, he's allowed 21 earned runs over his last five starts, causing his ERA to balloon more than a half run to 3.88. He'll look to steady the ship in his next start, scheduled to take place at home against the Nationals.
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Pirates' Mitch Keller: Bounces back with brilliant outing
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Keller (11-7) picked up the win Tuesday in a 4-0 victory over the Rangers, scattering three hits over seven-plus scoreless innings. He struck out nine without walking a batter.
After getting hammered for 15 runs in 12 innings over his last two trips to the mound, Keller was razor-sharp Tuesday, firing 73 of 98 pitches for strikes and retiring the first 11 batters he faced. All three hits off the right-hander were singles, and none of the runners even managed to get to second base. The quality start was Keller's 13th of the year, while the nine strikeouts tied his season high. He'll take a 3.76 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 134:40 K:BB through 148.1 innings into his next outing, which lines up to come at home early next week against the Cubs.
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Pirates' Mitch Keller: Rain cuts short start
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Keller came away with a no-decision in Saturday's 4-2 win over the Diamondbacks, allowing one hit and two walks over four scoreless innings. He struck out four.
The right-hander appeared headed for a potentially special performance, but a 68-minute rain delay ended his day after 60 pitches (44 strikes). Keller has given up two runs or less in five straight outings, posting a 2.17 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 22:9 K:BB through 29 innings over that stretch, but the last four have all resulted in no-decisions. He'll try to get back in the win column in his next start, which lines up to come on the road next weekend against the Dodgers.
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Pirates' Mitch Keller: Little run support Sunday
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Keller did not factor into the decision Sunday against the Diamondbacks, allowing two runs on two hits and two walks while striking out six over seven innings.
Keller was dominant once again and faced his only trouble in the fourth after Jake McCarthy ripped an RBI triple and then later scored on a sacrifice fly. It was the third quality start in the last four outings for Keller, though he only has one win to show for it, as the Pirates' offense only mustered up one run until they scored in the ninth to send the game into extras. Keller also managed to keep the ball inside the park, something he's struggled with a bit lately after allowing five home runs over his last four starts. The 28-year-old now owns a 3.30 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 114:34 K:BB in 128.1 innings and lines up for a rematch with the Diamondbacks at home over the weekend.
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Pirates' Mitch Keller: Fires seven strong innings
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Keller came away with a no-decision Monday against the Cardinals, allowing one earned run on six hits and two walks while striking out three in seven innings.
The lone blemish on Keller's line was a solo home run by Nolan Gorman in the fifth inning, the only extra-base hit of the night for the Cardinals. The right-hander matched a season low with just three strikeouts, but he logged his 11th quality start in what has been a strong campaign for the 28-year-old. Keller owns a 3.34 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and a 108:32 K:BB across 121.1 innings this season. He will look to keep things going in his next start, currently scheduled for this weekend in Arizona.
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Pirates' Mitch Keller: Pulled after three innings
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Keller didn't factor into the decision Sunday against the White Sox, allowing two runs on four hits and three walks over three innings. He struck out three.
The Pirates opted not to bring Keller out for the fourth inning, providing the 28-year-old with additional rest ahead of the All-Star Break. Keller has thrown 114.1 innings in the first half of the campaign and is on pace to shatter his career highs in starts and innings pitched, so it's possible the Pirates monitor Keller's workload during the back half of 2024. Still, Keller should be a strong fantasy option when on the mound, as he has posted a 3.46 ERA with 105 strikeouts this season while cruising to a 10-5 record.
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Pirates' Mitch Keller: Collects 10th win
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Keller (10-5) earned the win Monday, allowing two runs on seven hits and no walks over eight innings against the Mets. He struck out six.
The 28-year-old cruised to his second straight season with double-digit wins, allowing just one extra-base hit -- a two-run Brandon Nimmo homer in the sixth. Keller has been reliable since June 1, pitching to a 3.09 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 44:8 K:BB over 43.2 innings across seven starts. The Pirates right-hander is scheduled to make his last outing of the first half against the White Sox in Chicago this weekend.
