“To Get Him the Win Was Great,” Mitch Keller Puts End to Lengthy Drought

PITTSBURGH – Mitch Keller got to do something on Friday night that he hasn’t done for much of the season – pitch with some run support.

Keller entered Friday’s game against the New York Mets at PNC Park with 2.11 average runs of support while in the game – the fewest among all qualified Major League starters.

But the Pirates’ offense erupted for nine runs, including five while Keller was in the game, in their win over the New York Mets. 

“The guys were just banging today,” Keller said on the offense. “It was fun to see, fun to play behind. Overall a great game for us. Just a great game.”

In getting the win, Keller snapped a string of losing 10-straight decisions. He became the first Pirates’ pitcher to lose at least 10 consecutive decisions since Jose DeLeon dropped 11 in a row in 1985.

Keller’s win was his first since his season debut against the Marlins in Miami on March 28. He had gone 15 starts in between his first and second of the season. 

“For Mitch, that was awesome,” manager Don Kelly said following the win. “He did what he’s done consistently throughout this year. Pitched really, really well against a really good team. To score some runs for him felt really good, and to get him the win was great.”

His 2025 win drought wasn’t the only rough stretch that he put an end to.

Keller’s win was his first at PNC Park since last season on July 8. Coincidentally enough, that game also came against the Mets. 

Since his last home win, Keller was 0-10 across 16 starts when pitching at PNC Park despite posting a respectable 4.15 ERA. 

Keller labored early, needing 29 pitches to get through the first inning on Friday, raising the question of whether or not he’d be able to go the necessary five innings to even qualify for a win.

But Keller settled into a nice groove and was able to work into the sixth inning for the 14th time out of his 17 starts this season. 

“It’s huge,” Keller said on being able to grind through the first. “The game could be completely different if I don’t make it out of the first there with the pitch count I was already at.”

Keller’s evening ended after a Pete Alonso single followed a Juan Soto walk with one out in the sixth inning.

In came right-hander Isaac Mattson, who extinguished the threat by getting Jeff McNeil to fly out to right field and striking out Mark Vientos to end the inning. 

“I don’t even know if we need to call anything other than his fastball right now. He’s just got a stupid fastball that’s missing bats,” Keller said of Mattson. “Couldn’t be happier for him. He’s just been a great addition for our bullpen.”

The Pirates continued to pour it on for the remainder of the game, and a trio of relievers sealed the victory in relief of their starting pitcher.

Though Keller got to pitch with a comfortable lead, really for the first time this season, his mindset stayed the same throughout his outing.

“Still trying to get them out as fast as possible no matter what the score is,” he explained. “Having a little bit (of run support) … you can kind of just let your stuff work and if you give up a hit here and there, it’s not the end of the world.”

Keller’s now 2-10 record doesn’t paint the full picture of how he’s pitched this season. After his latest start, Keller’s season ERA is 3.90, which ranks 21st among National League starting pitchers. 

Keller, who is as even-keeled as the come, has maintained that he’s not concerned about individual wins and losses, but it has to be at least a small weight off his shoulders to get back in the win column.

“I mean honestly, I would rather have the quality start,” he said. “I’m glad we got the win, a quality start with the win would be amazing. But I’ll take the win for sure.”