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Mitch Keller has historically struggled after the All-Star break, though the Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander’s woes appear to be starting earlier this season.
Keller was tagged for six runs and seven hits in 4 2/3 innings on Friday night in a 6-3 loss to the Braves in the opener of a three-game series at Truist Park in Atlanta, sending the Pirates to just their second loss in their last seven games. The middle game of the series is set for Saturday.
In his last five starts, Keller is 1-2 with an 8.31 ERA. That comes after he began the season by going 4-1 with a 2.87 ERA in eight games. Overall, he is 5-3 with a 4.81 ERA in 13 starts.
During his eight-year career, Keller is 33-37 with a 4.22 ERA in 104 games before the All-Star break and 13-30 with a 5.13 ERA in 69 starts in the second half.
“I’m just not as sharp, and I have to figure it out,” Keller told reporters after Friday’s game.
Pittsburgh manager Don Kelly has an idea of what is leading to Keller’s struggles. Keller has just 20 strikeouts in 26 innings over his last five starts.
“I think that, with two strikes, (it’s not) being able to put guys away,” Kelly said. “I think it’s a key to pitching, being ahead, and being able to put guys away. I know fully well that Mitch is going to work hard to get out of it.”
The Pirates gave Keller a 3-1 lead by scoring three runs in the top of the third, but he gave up a tying two-run home run to Mauricio Dubon in the bottom of the inning. The Braves then scored three runs in the fifth inning to break the tie and knock Keller from the game.
Keller struck out four and walked three while needing 99 pitches to get 14 outs. The Braves have the best record in the major leagues at 42-21 and are second in the major leagues in runs scored with an average of 5.23 per game.
The Braves have always been a tough matchup for Keller, who is 1-4 with a 7.85 ERA in eight career starts against them. His ERA at Truist Park is 10.97 over five starts.
“They’re always aggressive,” Keller said. “They have a good lineup. It’s probably why they have the best record in baseball. They just did better than I did tonight.”
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Keller was tagged for six runs and seven hits in 4 2/3 innings on Friday night in a 6-3 loss to the Braves in the opener of a three-game series at Truist Park in Atlanta, sending the Pirates to just their second loss in their last seven games. The middle game of the series is set for Saturday.
In his last five starts, Keller is 1-2 with an 8.31 ERA. That comes after he began the season by going 4-1 with a 2.87 ERA in eight games. Overall, he is 5-3 with a 4.81 ERA in 13 starts.
During his eight-year career, Keller is 33-37 with a 4.22 ERA in 104 games before the All-Star break and 13-30 with a 5.13 ERA in 69 starts in the second half.
“I’m just not as sharp, and I have to figure it out,” Keller told reporters after Friday’s game.
Pittsburgh manager Don Kelly has an idea of what is leading to Keller’s struggles. Keller has just 20 strikeouts in 26 innings over his last five starts.
“I think that, with two strikes, (it’s not) being able to put guys away,” Kelly said. “I think it’s a key to pitching, being ahead, and being able to put guys away. I know fully well that Mitch is going to work hard to get out of it.”
The Pirates gave Keller a 3-1 lead by scoring three runs in the top of the third, but he gave up a tying two-run home run to Mauricio Dubon in the bottom of the inning. The Braves then scored three runs in the fifth inning to break the tie and knock Keller from the game.
Keller struck out four and walked three while needing 99 pitches to get 14 outs. The Braves have the best record in the major leagues at 42-21 and are second in the major leagues in runs scored with an average of 5.23 per game.
The Braves have always been a tough matchup for Keller, who is 1-4 with a 7.85 ERA in eight career starts against them. His ERA at Truist Park is 10.97 over five starts.
“They’re always aggressive,” Keller said. “They have a good lineup. It’s probably why they have the best record in baseball. They just did better than I did tonight.”
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