Keller (1-9) took the loss Tuesday, giving up three runs on eight hits over six innings as the Pirates were downed 3-2 by the Marlins. He struck out four without walking a batter.
The right-hander fired 73 of 97 pitches for strikes and piled up an impressive 39 called or swinging strikes en route to his 10th quality start of the season, but Pittsburgh once again failed to give Keller much run support. He's lasted at least six innings in seven straight trips to the mound, posting a 3.95 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 36:8 K:BB through 43.1 innings over that stretch, but he carries a miserable 0-6 record despite that consistency. Keller faces a tough test in his next outing, which lines up to come on the road this weekend against the Cubs.
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Pirates' Mitch Keller: Struggles in loss
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Keller (1-8) took the loss after allowing six runs on eight hits and one walk while striking out five in 6.1 innings during Thursday's 8-2 loss to the Astros.
Keller gave the Pirates some length once again, but his streak of five straight quality starts was snapped on a night when the first pitch was delayed by over three hours due to rain. The result was his second-worst start of season, behind only a seven-run disaster against the Yankees back on April 4. Keller hasn't picked up a win since his opening start of the season, a time frame spanning 12 starts, despite allowing three runs or fewer in nine of them. The right-hander's ERA is up to 4.13 on the season, and his next start is scheduled for Tuesday against the Marlins.
Keller (1-7) took the loss Friday, giving up three runs on three hits and two walks over six innings as the Pirates were downed 3-2 by the Padres. He struck out one.
The veteran righty managed only three swinging strikes among his 78 pitches (49 total strikes), but Keller generated plenty of weak contact as he delivered his fifth straight quality start, and ninth in 12 trips to the mound this season. His reliability has been matched only by the consistently poor offensive support he's gotten from the Pirates -- in all five of the games during his QS streak, Pittsburgh's scored two runs or fewer, and the team has yet to push more than four runs across in any of his 2025 starts. Should the Bucs look to move him by the trade deadline, Keller could see his fantasy value soar on a contender. He'll take a 3.73 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 56:19 K:BB through 70 innings into his next outing, which lines up to come at home next week against the Astros.
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Pirates' Mitch Keller: Solid showing in no-decision
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Keller did not factor into the decision Saturday, allowing one run on seven hits and no walks over six innings against the Brewers. He struck out seven.
He gave up his fair share of base hits, but Caleb Durbin's second-inning single was the only one that plated a run Saturday. Keller has been particularly sharp of late, posting a 1.89 ERA and a 20:2 K:BB across his past three starts. Aside from a rough outing against the Yankees on April 4, when he allowed seven runs over 3.2 innings, the 29-year-old has been a steady presence on the mound for the Pirates this season. After Saturday's start, Keller now sports a 3.66 ERA and 1.30 WHIP.
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Pirates' Mitch Keller: Quality start despite loss
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Keller (1-6) took the loss Monday against the Reds, allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits and one walk over six innings. He struck out five.
The 29-year-old notched his third consecutive quality start, all of which have been losses as the Pittsburgh offense has scored two runs over those contests, with this 91-pitch performance. Keller has been a dependable starter since a seven-run disaster against the Yankees on April 4, pitching to a 3.17 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 40:12 K:BB across 46.1 innings since then. Overall, the right-hander now sports a 3.88 ERA and 3.42 FIP through 58 frames. Keller is currently slated to make his next start at home against the Brewers this weekend.
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Pirates' Mitch Keller: Gets little help again in loss
Rotowire
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
Rotowire
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
Rotowire
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
Rotowire
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
Rotowire
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
Rotowire
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
Rotowire
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
Rotowire
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
Rotowire
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
Rotowire
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.
