The Pittsburgh Pirates have been carried by their starting pitching this season. Despite their success, the results have not translated to wins due to a historically bad offense.
Lost in the shuffle of the Bucco Bricks, a managerial change, the offense struggling, and multiple other oddities that have defined a turbulent 2025, Mitch Keller is having a solid season for Pittsburgh.
Keller has one of the worst records in all of baseball (1-6) despite a 3.66 ERA. The 29-year-old’s 1.30 WHIP is a little high, but inflated by a poor home opener start against the Yankees.
Keller allowed seven earned runs in 3.2 innings to the Bronx Bombers on April 4, but has pitched at least five innings in every start since. He has allowed two or fewer runs in seven starts and has been especially good in his last four.
The Pirates lost Keller’s previous four starts before earning a no-decision against the Milwaukee Brewers. Keller spun six innings of one-run ball with seven strikeouts and no walks on Saturday.
He’s allowed seven earned runs in his last 25 innings dating back to May 7 in St. Louis. Keller pitched six innings of three-hit ball against the Cardinals, two through seven in New York (Mets), and one earned (two runs) vs. Cincinnati Reds at PNC.
Through 64 innings, Keller has only allowed four home runs and 17 walks. His strikeout numbers are down – 55 punchouts – but has 26 in the last four games.
Keller will start in San Diego Friday at 9:40 p.m. He hasn’t earned a win since his first start in Miami on March 28. It’s not often you see a good pitcher go two months without a win, about time the Pirates reward their highest-paid starting pitcher on the team.