Pirates

Pirates Preview: Mitch Keller Duels Familiar Foe

Published

3 weeks ago

September 14, 2024

The Pittsburgh Pirates were defeated 8-3 by the Kansas City Royals in the opening game of a weekend series on Friday night at PNC Park.

Luis Ortiz took the loss after struggling and the Pirates struck out 14 times against Alec Marsh and a couple of Royals’ relief pitchers.

The Pirates (70-77) will look to even the series against the Royals (81-67) on Saturday afternoon with Mitch Keller facing Michael Wacha.

First pitch is set for 1:05 ET and the game will be aired on SportsNet Pittsburgh.

Weather

Temperatures climbing to the mid-80s during the game with sunshine overhead. Winds E at 7-8 mph.

The Pittsburgh Pirates Will Send Out RHP Mitch Keller (11-9, 3.85 ERA)

Keller had a strong start his last time out, when he held the Washington Nationals to two runs with eight strikeouts in six innings.

It was a needed quality start for Keller, who has had some struggles since the All-Star break. After his start against the Nationals, he’s 1-4 with a 4.74 ERA in nine second-half starts.

Keller leads the Pirates in starts (28), innings (163.2), strikeouts (153) and wins.

The right-hander struggled in his one previous starts against Kansas City. He was charged with four runs across 2.2 innings and took the loss.

The Kansas City Royals Will Send Out RHP Michael Wacha (12-7, 3.34 ERA)

Wacha is coming off one of his best starts of the season. Against the Minnesota Twins on Sunday, he tossed seven-shutout innings and punched out seven.

The 33-year-old is having an excellent first season in Kansas City and has been a key reason for the team’s unexpected success.

Interestingly, Wacha’s most-often used pitch is his changeup. He also throws a four-seamer, sinker, cutter, slider and curveball.

Wacha is 7-3 with a 3.68 ERA in 18 previous appearances — not including a dominant start in the 2013 NLDS.

Royals Hitters vs. Keller

Tommy Pham: 3 for 13, one walk, two strikeouts
Paul DeJong: 1 for 10, one home run, two RBIs, one walk, six strikeouts
Robbie Grossman: 5 for 8
Hunter Renfroe: 2 for 4, one walk, one strikeout
Adam Frazier: 0 for 3, one strikeout

Pirates Hitters vs. Wacha

Andrew McCutchen: 14 for 39, two doubles, one triple, two home runs, five RBIs, three walks, seven strikeouts
Yasmani Grandal: 5 for 21, one home run, three RBIs, three walks, four strikeouts
Michael A. Taylor: 4 for 14, one double, four strikeouts
Isiah Kiner-Falefa: 3 for 10, two walks, one strikeout

Tidbits

Prior to allowing seven runs (four earned) against the Royals on Friday, Luis Ortiz had a 3.14 ERA dating back to June 26 — the seventh best mark in MLB during that span.
Alec Marsh struck matched a career-high by striking out 11 Pirates’ batters in 5.1 innings.
Oneil Cruz went 2 for 5 with a double, an RBI and a run scored in the loss. He’s tied for the fifth-best batting average in baseball (.324) since Aug. 1.