How Mitch Keller Showed Maturation Against Potent Astros’ Lineup (+)
PITTSBURGH — Ever since Mitch Keller rejoined the Pittsburgh Pirates’ rotation after a brief stint in the bullpen last season, he has looked like a brand-new pitcher.
Since May 31 of last year, Keller entered Tuesday’s game against the Houston Astros with the sixth-lowest ERA in the National League with an impressive 3.27 mark.
The progress he’s shown would be put to the test against the reigning World Series champion Astros and their impressive lineup.
Keller may have allowed a pair of early home runs, but he was able to keep his composure. He gave the Pirates six quality innings on the mound as kept his team in position to pull out a victory.
“Yeah, it’s just flushing it and knowing I got a lot more work to do and a lot can happen in the game as you guys saw – two-run homer and then, yeah just a really good baseball game. So, just knowing I gotta stay locked in and keep going.”
Prior to Keller’s career-turnaround, the right-hander would almost certainly let a pair of early home runs mess with his psyche. Who knows how the following innings would have unfolded in previous years.
His manager knows that he has been growing as a pitcher, and that was apparent at PNC Park on Tuesday night.
“He threw the ball well. He didn’t have his best stuff, which was really encouraging that he gave up only the two solo homers to two pretty good hitters and was able to minimize damage the rest of the time. I think it says a ton for his maturation,” Derek Shelton said.
In total, the two solo home runs were the only two runs Keller allowed. He gave up six hits, walked a pair and struck out seven Astros’ batters.
Keller’s emergence will be a big key for the Pirates this season. The Pirates have gotten off to a hot start with a 7-4 record through their first 11 games of the season. In two of his team-high three starts, Keller has turned in quality performances.
In 13 innings over his last two starts, Keller has only surrendered three earned runs.
The Pirates as a team have faced their toughest challenge yet in a three-game series in Pittsburgh with the Astros. Through the first two games of this series, the Pirates have drawn even.
“It’s really good. It just shows that we can compete with the best of them. I think we’ve already shown that. We got a really good baseball team. The key going forward is consistency, so if we can be consistent we can hang with the best of them,” Keller said.
Consistency will be the key for the Pirates. It will also be the key for Keller, who has become the Pirates’ top starting pitcher. Who would have predicted that this time last season?
The Pirates will go for their third-straight series victory on Wednesday afternoon. Taking a series from the Astros would be a bold statement made by the club in the early stages of the season.
Keller made his own statement on Tuesday.