Another ugly stat line for Mitch Keller, but this time Pirates see progress

The line in the box score for Mitch Keller’s fourth start of spring training wasn’t significantly better than it was for any of the previous three. Monday, eight of the 17 batters he faced reached base.

But the precocious Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander and his manager insist that the 71-pitch outing against the Baltimore Orioles was anything but more of the same for a pitcher lugging around a 16.20 Grapefruit League ERA.

“Today was a step in the right direction,” manager Derek Shelton said Monday after the Pirates’ 6-5, eight-inning win at LECOM Park in Bradenton, Fla. “Today he gave up some hits, but the command was better. It’s the best offspeed stuff we’ve seen all spring out of him. He threw two or three sliders that were really good.

“I think today was a positive. I know he gave up three runs and gave up some hits, but the command of the fastball was definitely much more consistent. Saw some good breaking balls. Velocity was good, so I was happy with this outing.”

Mitch Keller on his Grapefruit League start today pic.twitter.com/BdhLnu7fUZ

— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) March 22, 2021

Once the Pirates’ most prized pitching prospect and still just 24 years old, Keller has allowed 15 earned runs on 22 hits in 8 1/3 Grapefruit League innings this spring.

Monday’s outing followed a start five days prior in which the Tampa Bay Rays tagged Keller for eight runs, three home runs and seven hits in two innings. His spring WHIP is an unsightly 3.12; his batting average against an equally grotesque .512.

Still, Keller maintained that Monday represented progress.

“Just based off of feel,” he said during a video conference with media after his outing. “Threw a lot more strikes today, and that was the main thing, just going in and filling it up and letting my stuff play.

“I mean, they hit a lot of singles through holes, so I can’t really be too mad about that. I got some good contact that I was looking for, but it’s just one of those days again where stuff’s falling and I’ve just got to go back and look at it and hopefully make some better pitches next time out.”

Positives from Monday’s game for the Pirates included a combined 3 2/3 scoreless innings with five strikeouts and one hit allowed from a trio of players expected to begin the season on the staff: Geoff Hartlieb, Trevor Cahill and Duane Underwood.

Also, Kevin Newman continued his torrid spring, going 3 for 4 with a double and three runs scored. That bumped his Grapefruit League slash line to .700/.760/.850.

“If anybody wants to hit .700, I’m all in on that,” Shelton said. “I mean, sign me up for that.

“(But) I think the big point is the fact that we’re starting to see the work that we’ve done and the adjustments that we’ve made pay off in game situations. And that is important, and it is transferable.”

Mitch Keller ended last season throwing 11 consecutive hitless innings over his final two starts. The #Pirates are looking for him to become the anchor of their pitching staffhttps://t.co/oSAv81Aep0

— Tribune-ReviewSports (@TribSports) February 18, 2021

Newman seems to be cementing his case as the Opening Day shortstop. But will Keller be the starting pitcher that April 1 in Chicago? Based on Keller pitching on five days rest and the regular season’s start being 10 days away, he could be in line to be. Keller said Monday that “would mean the world” to him.

Shelton said that decision has not been made yet.

“It’s a huge honor to be one of the 30 guys toeing up the rubber for the first time for their team, so I mean, that’d be sweet,” Keller said. “But just looking forward to the season. I’m not worried about that or worried about anything going on, where I’m at in the rotation. I’m just worried about myself and trying to get better every single time out there and getting ready for the season.”

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