Pirates All 40: One Area Mitch Keller Needs to Improve

This is one in a series of stories breaking down members of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 40-man roster.

Mitch Keller made headlines during spring training when he signed a five-year extension with the Pittsburgh Pirates for $77 million.

The deal, which was the largest ever given to a pitcher by the Pirates, rewarded Keller for being named a National League All-Star in 2023 and served as a sign of faith that he’d be able to anchor the rotation for the foreseeable future.

However, the early return on the extension was not what he or the Pirates would have hoped for. Keller got the ball on Opening Day for the second-consecutive season but struggled during the first month of the season. Through the end of April, Keller had a 5.19 ERA across seven starts.

But the 28-year-old found his stride in May and continued his brilliance through the beginning of August. At the break, Keller was left off the All-Star roster despite a healthy 3.46 ERA and public support from manager Derek Shelton and a handful of teammates.

Keller’s final start of the first half came against the Chicago White Sox, when he lasted only three innings. The outing ended a streak of 49-straight starts of pitching at least five innings, the second-longest streak in franchise history.

While Keller still a solid season overall, he struggled down the stretch again as he did in 2023. Over his final nine starts of the season, the right-hander went 1-7 with a 7.29 ERA while opponents slashed .311/.362/.575 against him during that time.

In the end, Keller wrapped up his sixth season with the Pirates at 11-12 with a 4.25 ERA, nearly an identical mark to his final 2023 ERA of 4.21. Last season, Keller had a 3.31 first-half ERA but posted a 5.59 ERA during the second half.

Once again, Keller served as a workhorse and led the Pirates with 31 starts and 178 innings. He finished second on the team in strikeouts with 166.

But for Keller to take the next step from valuable innings-eater to top-of-the-rotation presence, he will need to put two halves together and finish strong. It will undoubtedly be a goal of his entering 2025.