Mitch Keller Named National League Player of the Week

Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Mitch Keller has been named the National League Player of the Week by Major League Baseball for the week ending Sunday.

Keller had a 2-0 record last week and pitched 16 scoreless innings. The 27-year-old allowed eight hits and one walk while striking out 21.

Last Monday, Keller threw his first career complete game when he shut out the Colorado Rockies 2-0 on four hits at PNC Park. He struck out eight, walked one, retired the final 10 batters in order, and threw 77 of 103 pitches for strikes.

It was the first nine-inning shutout by a Pirates pitcher since Jameson Taillon blanked the Cincinnati Reds on April 8, 2018.

On Sunday, Keller had a career-high 13 strikeouts and pitched seven scoreless innings to lead the Pirates to a 4-0 victory over the Orioles in Baltimore. He had no walks.

Keller became the first pitcher in franchise history to work at least seven scoreless innings without walking a batter while permitting no more than four hits and striking out at least 13.

Keller is 5-1 with a 2.38 ERA this season in nine starts. He has a 1.02 WHIP and 69 strikeouts in 56.2 innings.