Pirates

Pirates Preview: Mitch Keller Duels Ex-Bucco Quinn Priester

Published

4 weeks ago

May 24, 2025

The Pittsburgh Pirates won a thrilling 6-5 game against the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday night on a walk-off wild pitch in the 10th inning.

Adam Frazier scored the game-winning run after Oneil Cruz belted a pair of homers and Paul Skenes twirled 6.0-strong innings.

The Pirates (18-34) will try and make it back-to-back wins over the Brewers (25-27) against their 2018 first-round draft pick.

First pitch is set for 4:05 p.m. ET, and the game will be broadcast on SportsNet Pittsburgh and 93.7 The Fan.

Weather

Partly cloudy skies with temperatures in the low-60s. Winds NW at 13-15 mph.

RHP Mitch Keller (1-6, 3.88 ERA) Will Start for the Pirates

Keller took the loss in his last start against the Reds despite allowing just two runs (one earned) in 6.0 innings pitched.

Since allowing seven runs in 3.2 innings against the Yankees on Apr. 4, Keller has a 3.17 ERA (17er/48.1ip) over his last eight starts.

Despite his success over the last six weeks or so, Keller has not gotten a win since his first start of the season in Miami. The Pirates, meanwhile, have lost the last seven games which he started.

Keller will look for better results against the Brewers. In nine career starts against Milwaukee, the Pirates’ right-hander is 1-5 with a 5.44 ERA.

RHP Quinn Priester (1-2, 4.66 ERA) Will Start for the Brewers

The Pirates traded Priester to the Red Sox at last year’s trade deadline for infielder Nick Yorke. He was traded to Milwaukee earlier this season.

Priester allowed three runs across 5.1 innings following an opener against the Orioles following an opener in his last appearance.

In 38.2 innings so far this season, Priester has allowed 35 hits, including five home runs, with 22 walks and 25 strikeouts.

This will be his first appearance against the team that drafted him.

Brewers Hitters vs. Keller

William Contreras: 5 for 16, two home runs, three RBI, one walk, three strikeouts
Christian Yelich: 5 for 15, one RBI, three walks, five strikeouts
Brice Turang: 4 for 11, one home run, five RBI, two strikeouts
Rhys Hoskins: 6 for 9, two doubles, one triple, three RBI, one walk, one strikeout
Jake Bauer: 3 for 8, one RBI, two strikeouts
Sal Frelick: 3 for 8, two doubles, two RBI, three walks, two strikeouts
Joey Ortiz: 3 for 6, one double, one triple, one strikeout
Eric Hasse: 1 for 4, one double, one RBI, two strikeouts
Andruw Monasterio: 1 for 3, one strikeout

Pirates Hitters vs. Priester

Alexander Canario: 1 for 3, one double, one RBI, one strikeout
Isiah Kiner-Falefa: 1 for 2

Tidbits

Friday was the first time in his career that Oneil Cruz hit two home runs in the same game. The 117.9 mph exit velocity on his first of the night was the hardest-hit homer of his career.
Friday’s victory was the first time the Pirates won a game Paul Skenes started since Apr. 25 against the Dodgers in Los Angeles. Dating back to that outing, Skenes has a 1.93 ERA over his last six starts.
The Pirates selected Quinn Priester in the first round (18th pick) of the 2019 draft. He went 5-9 with a 6.46 ERA in 20 appearances/14 starts with Pittsburgh from 2023-24.