What Pirates’ Starting Pitchers Have Done is Simply Remarkable (+)
PITTSBURGH — On Friday night against the Cincinnati Reds, right-hander Mitch Keller delivered another strong performance, but that only paints part of the picture.
Keller gave the Pirates six innings, limited the Reds to just two runs on four hits, walked one and struck out five batters. For Keller, it was another quality start.
For the Pirates, it was their 11th quality start in a row. Keller started the stretch of Pirates’ pitchers going six-plus innings and allowing three runs or less back on Apr. 11 against the Houston Astros in PNC Park.
“Yeah, I mean I think it’s just kinda staying the same. We’ve had really good gameplans. Hedges and Delay are doing awesome back there and getting us through some jams and getting us out of stuff and just really calling the right pitches, so huge testament to them.
“I think it’s just a testament to us starters just filling up the zone and just throwing as many strikes as possible and just putting the pressure on them rather than on us,” Keller said.
He, Rich Hill, Vince Velasquez, Johan Oviedo and Roansy Contreras have now done something that hasn’t been accomplished since the Los Angeles Dodgers had 12 consecutive quality starts in 2019. They finished that season with a 106-56 record.
The Pirates’ starting pitching staff is a tight-knit group and together, they are achieving something remarkable.
“We got a pretty good tight group with the starters, we’ll go out and watch everyone’s bullpen before the pregame and midweek… we’re helping each other out which is awesome and I think that’s a huge testament to why we’re doing well,” said Keller.
While the Pirates (14-7), have gotten off to a nice start early on, it will be nearly impossible for the club to match the Dodgers’ record from four seasons ago.
Nevertheless, what the Pirates have done is still impressive. Interestingly enough, Hill was on that Dodgers’ team that accomplished the feat. The Pirates’ stretch is eye-opening considering the Dodgers’ rotation that season consisted of future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw, Hyun Jin Ryu, who was an All-star that year and finished second in the Cy Young race, as well as two-time All-Star Walker Buehler.
During their current stretch, the Pirates are (8-3) in those 11 games. They are currently on a five-game winning streak, the first time that has happened since 2019. Coincidence? Of course not.
“Anytime you have 11 quality starts in a row, the pitching should be at the forefront of all that… They pitched well again tonight,” manager Derek Shelton said.
Keller, in particular, has become the de-facto ace of the Pirates’ staff after fulfilling his potential last season. He’s carried his momentum over into this year and that was evident against the Reds on Friday night.
“We’ve seen Mitch Keller a lot and that might have been the best stuff we’ve seen him have. He’s a good pitcher but his stuff was really good tonight,” Reds manager David Bell said.
On Saturday, it’ll be Rich Hill who is tasked with keeping both streaks alive when the Pirates take on the Reds again at 6:35 at PNC Park.
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