Pirates

Pirates Preview: Keller Aims to Stop Bleeding, Avoid Sweep

Published

11 months ago

May 14, 2023

The Pittsburgh Pirates (21-19) have been absolutely awful during the month of May and need to break through sooner or later. Maybe their fortunes will change in game three against the Baltimore Orioles (26-13).

Roansy Contreras did all he could Saturday night to keep the Pirates in the ballgame as he pitched seven full innings while giving up just two earned runs.

The Pirates’ offense continued its woeful May and were unable to break through and got shutout in a 2-0 defeat Saturday night.

First pitch at Camden Yards is scheduled for 1:35 p.m. You can watch all of the action on AT&T Sportsnet, or listen to the game on the Pirates radio station, 93.7 The Fan.

Weather

You can expect partly cloudy skies in Baltimore throughout the contest, with temperatures ranging from 74-76 degrees. There should be a slight nine mph wind blowing north/northeast.

The Pirates will send out RHP Mitch Keller (4-1, 2.72 ERA)

Keller was nothing short of brilliant in his last outing on May 8 against the Colorado Rockies. Keller pitched his first-ever complete game shutout in the majors and allowed just four hits, one walk, and struck out eight.

In that game, Keller induced 11 whiffs and got eight of them with his four-seam, which averaged around 96 mph throughout the contest.

In six of his last seven outings, Keller has gone at least six full innings and has given up just 11 runs in those 45 combined innings pitched.

Keller has faced the Orioles once (one start) and holds a 0-1 record with an ERA of 1.50 in six innings pitched.

The Orioles will send out RHP Kyle Gibson (4-2, 4.40 ERA).

Gibson gave the Orioles a quality start despite taking an L in his last outing against the Tampa Bay Rays on May 8.

Gibson pitched a total of six innings and gave up six hits, two earned runs, two walks, and struck out four on 93 pitches (59 called strikes).

The 35-year-old Gbson offers a six-pitch mix with a sinker (23.8%), sweeper (20.8%), changeup (20%), cutter (15.1%), four-seam (12.9%), and a curveball (7.4%).

The Pirates will have to sit back and wait on Gibson’s sinker, as it has had terrible numbers attached to it, with an opposing batting average of .313 with an average EV of 90.3 mph.

Gibson has faced the Pirates three times (three starts) and holds a record of 2-0 with an ERA of 2.75.

Interesting Batting Match Ups

Orioles Hitters

Cedric Mullins: 2-3 with two doubles against Keller

Pirates Hitters

Connor Joe: 2-6 with a homer against Gibson
Carlos Santana: 6-37 with four homers, eight walks, and five strikeouts against Gibson
Bryan Reynolds: 1-8 with three strikeouts against Gibson
Ke’Bryan Hayes: 0-6 with two strikeouts against Gibson
Miguel Andujar: 0-5 with two strikeouts against Gibson

Tidbits

Keller is currently tied for tenth in the majors in strikeouts with 56. He is currently third in the N.L.
In addition, Keller is ranked tenth in the N.L. win ERA with a 2.72. In all of MLB, Keller is tied for 20th overall.
In their last 11 games, the Pirates have scored a total of 16 runs and have lost ten of those 11 games.