Pirates Finally Getting Something From Mitch Keller
Pirates Finally Getting Something From Mitch Keller
The Pittsburgh Pirates may just be getting the best version of their eldest starter.Dominic Campbell|
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Pittsburgh PiratesPITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitching is a key part to the team's success and they'll need the very best from them heading into the second half of 2026.
Veteran right-handed starting pitcher Mitch Keller is someone that the Pirates must get consistent performances from and his last two starts have shown promise in him doing just that.
Keller has given up just four earned runs over 11.1 innings pitched his past two outings for a 3.18 ERA, a good number for him and a stark contrast to how he's thrown over the last month.
He's not quite at the top of his game, but Keller getting back to having more consistent starts would be massive for the Pirates moving forward.
Overview of Keller's Last Two Starts
The first inning vs. the Athletics at Sutter Health Park on June 16 couldn't have gone much worse for Keller, as he loaded the bases with just one out.
Keller would get the second out and appeared to get out of the inning with a grounder, but first baseman Spencer Horwitz overthrew him, allowing all three runs to score, with a fourth run coming next off an RBI-double.
All four of those runs were unearned, but Keller could've have let the outing get worse and end up like his last six starts, where he posted an 8.70 ERA.
Keller instead settled in and allowed just three hits and a walk the rest of the way, getting into the sixth inning and only departing after allowing a solo home run to third baseman Zack Gelof.
He ended up with a season-high seven strikeouts and gave the Pirates a chance to make a comeback, as they would end up winning 6-5.
Keller maintained that kind of performance in his last start vs. the Seattle Mariners in the series opener at PNC Park on June 23, giving up just three earned runs over six innings.
He got 15 fly outs/pop outs vs. the Mariners and kept the road team relatively ineffective throughout the start, aside from the two home runs he gave up, which ended up giving him a loss in the 3-2 defeat.
Keller was pleased with his outing for the most part, especially against a solid lineup, but still thought he could've done better overall.
"Yeah, definitely a lot of positives from the way it's been going," Keller said. "Yeah, just a couple pitches I would want back, obviously. Good team, a couple guys made a good couple of swings. Just not enough."
Keller Still Wants Better in 2026
These two starts are big for Keller, but this season hasn't gone exactly as he would've wanted it to.
Keller had a 2.87 ERA through his first eight starts, with a 4-1 record, six quality starts (at least six innings pitched, no more than three earned runs allowed), a .206 batting average allowed (BAA) and a 1.04 WHIP.
His last eight starts have not gone so well, with a 7.19 ERA over 41.1 innings pitched and 1-4 record, even with his last two starts
Keller is taking a different mentality than he has prior, going right after hitters and trying to get the first stirke, not falling behind and putting himself in bad counts.
He threw 50% (12/24) first pitch strikes against the Athletics and then threw 65% (17/26) first pitch strikes against the Athletics, which he credits to utilizing his entire pitch mix.
"I think just getting back to what I'm good at," Keller said on his last two starts. "I mean, I throw six different pitches. And using those to get ahead rather than just handcuffing myself to a couple. Just keeping it open."
Pirates manager Don Kelly knows just how important Keller is, with a relatively young and inexperienced starting rotation, aside from Paul Skenes, with Braxton Ashcraft, Bubba Chandler and the recently returned Jared Jones.
Kelly praised Keller for his outings, noticing his improvements and that him getting deeper into these starts is something Kelly knows his veteran starter can do more this season.
"I thought Mitch pitched really well tonight and did pitch into the seventh. Unfortunately, ran into some trouble there. I don't even know what he ended up at, low 90s I think. But did a real nice job and induced contact early. Those guys, every time they go out, they go out there to pitch deeper into the game. They're trying to do that and just to be more efficient in outings. And I thought Mitch did that tonight."
Published 3 hours ago
DOMINIC CAMPBELLDominic writes for Pittsburgh Pirates On SI, Pittsburgh Panthers Pn SI and also, Pittsburgh Steelers On SI. A Pittsburgh native, Dominic grew up watching Pittsburgh Sports and wrote for The Pitt News as an undergraduate at the University of Pittsburgh, covering Pitt Athletics. He would write for Pittsburgh Sports Now after college and has years of experience covering sports across Pittsburgh.
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Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
