Mitch Keller's 7.01 ERA in Seven Starts: Why His Manager Is Still Betting Big On Him

Alright, Seattle, listen up, because sometimes the wildest baseball stories aren't always about our guys, but they still hit you like a foul tip to the knee. This one's about Pittsburgh Pirates starter Mitch Keller, and man, it was a rough night at the office for him on Thursday against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was out there in the rubber match, trying to seal a series win at home against the reigning back-to-back World Series champs, and it just did not go well. His struggles are real, and they are escalating right now.

Keller's Nightmare On The Mound

Coming into Thursday's game, Keller already had a 7.01 ERA over his prior seven starts. That's a brutal stretch for any pitcher in the bigs. Then, he stepped up against the Dodgers, and things didn't get any easier. Over four tough innings, he gave up five earned runs on seven hits. The Pirates ultimately lost the game 8-6, which is just adding salt to the wound for a team trying to find its footing. His season ERA, after that outing, jumped to a concerning 5.14. You watch guys struggle like that, and you just feel it. The dude is clearly fighting himself out there, and the numbers don't lie.

"Just Got To Be Better"

You know, sometimes you just gotta call it like it is. Keller himself was pretty blunt after the game about what went wrong. He wasn't happy, telling reporters he wasn't "executing" his pitches. And he specifically called out "walking people" as a major problem, saying it "s not helping me." That's the kind of honesty you appreciate, but it also screams frustration. He knows he has to "fill it up more, attack the hitters and just execute when I've got them in two strikes." Against a lineup like the Dodgers, you just can't afford free passes. He owned it, saying, "I didn't do that tonight. That's the end result." It's hard to hear, but that's the game. What's wild, though, is what Pirates manager Don Kelly had to say. Despite all of Keller's recent woes, Kelly sounds like he's still got full confidence in the veteran righty. Kelly straight up said, "He has done it. He's been a really good pitcher for us. He's gonna get out of this. We need to find a way." You gotta wonder, what's he seeing that the stat sheet isn't? Or is it just a manager backing his guy through the fire? Either way, that's a bold statement given Keller's recent struggles. The Pirates, after that loss, fell to 35-34, putting them one game out of a Wild Card spot. They're still in the mix, barely, but with pitching like that, they're gonna need a serious turnaround. You gotta wonder if Keller can actually find that "way" to get back on track for his team. The season is still long, and every game counts.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.