Keller (7-2) took the loss Tuesday, allowing five runs on eight hits and four walks over 5.1 innings in an 11-2 loss against Oakland. He struck out one.
Keller struggled Tuesday, tying his season high of four walks while setting a new low in strikeouts. The outing continued a concerning stretch of starts for Keller, who has accrued a 7.79 ERA and a 17:7 K:BB while allowing 25 hits over his last three starts (17.1 innings) after holding a 2.44 ERA with 77 strikeouts in his first 10 appearances (62.2 innings). Though fantasy managers were likely disappointed by his struggles against MLB's lowest-scoring offense, they shouldn't hesitate to come back to Keller for his next start, which is expected to come against the Cubs at Wrigley Field.
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Pirates' Mitch Keller: Strikes out eight in seventh win
Rotowire
Keller (7-1) earned the win Wednesday, allowing four runs on 10 hits and one walk across six innings during a 9-4 victory over the Giants. He struck out eight.
Keller allowed a season-high 10 hits, but he got plenty of run support and cruised to his seventh win. The right-hander has given up 10 runs over his past two starts (12 innings) after surrendering just 13 across his previous nine appearances (58 innings). His ERA has ballooned to 3.25, but he still holds a superb 1.08 WHIP and 93:17 K:BB across 74.2 innings. Despite back-to-back rocky starts, Keller remains the ace of the Pirates' pitching staff and will look to reclaim his dominant form in his next start, which tentatively lines up as a home start versus Oakland.
Keller (6-1) picked up the win Friday over the Mariners, allowing six runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out eight over six-plus innings.
Keller versus George Kirby looked like a pitchers' duel on paper, but it ended up being a slugfest in practice. Keller was taken deep twice in his worst start since Opening Day, but he was still the better of the two starters. He's rarely one to give up many homers, having allowed just seven across 11 starts this season. The rough outing raised Keller's ERA to 3.01 with a 1.02 WHIP and 85:16 K:BB through 68.2 innings. He'll look to put this one behind him next week in San Francisco.
Keller did not factor into the decision Saturday, allowing two runs on three hits over six innings against the Diamondbacks. He struck out eight.
Keller worked his way through the Diamondbacks' lineup with relative ease, retiring 16 straight batters after allowing a solo homer to Ketel Marte in the first inning, racking up eight strikeouts without walking a single batter. Keller has been one of the best pitchers in baseball over the past month, allowing just five earned runs over his last five starts (33.0 innings), picking up four wins and boasting an incredible 47:3 K/BB over that stretch. The right-hander was on his way to picking up another win Saturday, handing the ball off to the bullpen with a 3-2 lead after six innings, but he had the win spoiled after Pavin Smith launched a two-run home run off Robert Stephenson to give Arizona the lead in the seventh. Keller is slated to take the mound next in a road series against the Mariners, who strike out at the second-highest rate in MLB.
Pirates' Mitch Keller: Career-high 13 strikeouts in win
Rotowire
Keller (5-1) earned the win Sunday, tossing seven scoreless innings in which he allowed four hits during a 4-0 win over the Orioles. He struck out 13 and did not issue a walk.
Keller recorded a career-high 13 strikeouts, marking his second game of the season with double digits, and he hasn't allowed a run over his past two starts (16 innings), lowering his ERA to 2.38. The right-hander has shown flashes before, but he's currently in the best stretch of his career and has a sterling 69:14 K:BB over 56.2 innings to start the season. Keller will look to continue his scoreless streak next time out, which is tentatively scheduled for the finale of a three-game weekend set versus Arizona.
