Mitch Keller

Fantasy News

• Pirates' Mitch Keller: Makes adjustment to changeup

  Rotowire Feb 24, 2026

  Keller adjusted the grip on his changeup during the offseason, Kevin Gorman of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports. Keller throws a wide range of pitches and consistently tinkers with his offerings, though his changeup has never been a major part of his arsenal. It's unclear exactly how he changed the pitch, but he threw it six times in his spring debut Sunday against the Rays -- all against lefties. Keller reported feeling comfortable with the pitch, per Kevin Gorman of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, so it could be a more prominent part of Keller's game plan in 2026.

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• Pirates' Mitch Keller: First spring start scheduled

  Rotowire Feb 19, 2026

  Keller will make his Grapefruit League debut Sunday against the Rays, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. Keller has turned into a consistent starter for the Pirates, though he endured a tough second half of 2025 by posting a 5.56 ERA and 1.50 WHIP across 57.1 innings. He's looking to be more consistent in 2026, but he's posted an ERA in the low 4.00s with a WHIP in the mid 1.20s in each of the last three seasons. Keller will remain a stalwart in the rotation in 2026 and could serve as the No. 2 starter behind Paul Skenes.

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• Pirates' Mitch Keller: Labors in no-decision

  Rotowire Sep 27, 2025

  Keller didn't factor into the decision Friday against Atlanta, allowing one run on three hits and five walks in 3.2 innings. He struck out six. Keller lacked control in his last start of the campaign, issuing his most walks of the year in his shortest outing since Aug. 19. In fact, the right-hander lent more free passes Friday than he did in his prior five appearances combined. Keller will be entering the third season of his five-year contract with the Pirates in 2026, and he remained a capable -- if unspectacular -- major-league starter in 2025. Over 176.1 innings, he posted a 4.19 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 150:51 K:BB.

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• Pirates' Mitch Keller: Serves up two homers in loss

  Rotowire Sep 20, 2025

  Keller (6-15) allowed four earned runs on four hits and a walk while striking out four across five innings to take the loss Friday against the A's. Keller had a smooth start to the outing, as he retired the first nine batters he faced. However, he allowed a solo home run in the fourth inning, followed by a three-run shot a frame later to ruin his day. Keller has now allowed at least one home run in six straight starts and has a 5.87 ERA paired with a 1.45 WHIP across 53.2 innings since the All-Star break.

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• Pirates' Mitch Keller: Takes no-decision

  Rotowire Sep 13, 2025

  Keller did not factor into the decision Friday, allowing two runs on four hits and one walk over 5.1 innings in a 6-5 loss against Washington. He struck out four. The right-hander appeared on his way to his seventh victory of the season with a 3-0 lead through five frames, but he was charged with a couple runs on three hits in the sixth before the Pittsburgh bullpen faltered an inning later. Keller entered the All-Star break with a 3.48 ERA across 119 innings, but he has a 5.73 ERA in 10 starts since the midseason break.

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• Pirates' Mitch Keller: Out-dueled by Woodruff

  Rotowire Sep 7, 2025

  Keller (6-14) took the loss Saturday, allowing two runs on five hits over 6.1 innings as the Pirates were downed 4-1 by the Brewers. He struck out four without walking a batter. It was arguably Keller's best performance since the All-Star break, with a two-run homer by Jake Bauers in the fourth inning being the only blemish on his line, but the right-hander had no margin for error with Brandon Woodruff firing goose eggs over six innings for Milwaukee. The quality start was Keller's 17th of the season, one off his career high, but only two of them have come in seven outings since the beginning of August -- a stretch in which he's stumbled to a 5.86 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 36:11 K:BB through 35.1 innings. He'll try to build on this effort in his next trip to the mound, which is scheduled to come on the road next weekend against the Nationals.

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• Pirates' Mitch Keller: Falls to Boston

  Rotowire Aug 31, 2025

  Keller (6-13) took the loss Sunday against the Red Sox, allowing four runs (none earned) on four hits and a walk across five innings. He struck out seven. After blanking the Red Sox through four innings, Keller fell victim to some poor defense behind him in the fifth -- Romy Gonzalez reached via error to start the frame before Jarren Duran legged out a three-run, inside-the-park home run with two outs. While he wasn't charged with an earned run Sunday, Keller has been shaky of late, posting a 7.59 ERA across seven starts coming into the day. Overall, the right-hander sports a 4.21 ERA with a 1.28 WHIP and 132:44 K:BB across 28 starts (156 innings) this season.

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• Pirates' Mitch Keller: Punches out nine

  Rotowire Aug 27, 2025

  Keller (6-12) earned the win over the Cardinals on Tuesday, allowing three runs on three hits and one walk while striking out nine in six innings. Keller was nearly through four scoreless frames, but Nolan Gorman took him deep for a two-run shot with two outs to get the Cardinals on the board. Keller racked up a season-high nine strikeouts and recorded his first quality start since July 22. He's now up to 16 quality starts this season, which is tied for 10th in MLB. Keller will look to build on his positive outing when he faces the Dodgers in a home start next week.

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• Pirates' Mitch Keller: Roughed up again Tuesday

  Rotowire Aug 20, 2025

  Keller (5-12) took the loss Tuesday against the Blue Jays, allowing five runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out four in 3.1 innings. Keller struggled out of the gates, allowing three runs in the opening frame while needing 33 pitches to complete the inning. George Springer then punished him in the second with a two-run blast to put the Pirates in a quick 5-0 hole. In six starts since the All-Star break, Keller owns an 8.31 ERA and 2.08 WHIP and has completed six frames only once. He lines up for a road start against the Cardinals to begin next week.

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• Pirates' Mitch Keller: Can't slow down Brew Crew

  Rotowire Aug 13, 2025

  Keller (5-11) took the loss Wednesday, surrendering six runs on eight hits and two walks over four innings as the Pirates were downed 12-5 by the Brewers. He struck out five. The right-hander couldn't stop Milwaukee from winning its 12th straight game, getting tagged for more than five runs for the first time since June 5 and getting handed his first loss since June 21. Since the latter outing, Keller has posted a 4.34 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 39:15 K:BB through 47.2 innings over nine starts. He'll look to rebound in his next trip to the mound, which is scheduled to come at home early next week against the Blue Jays.

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• Pirates' Mitch Keller: Solid despite command issues

  Rotowire Aug 8, 2025

  Keller did not factor into the decision in Friday's 3-2 win over the Reds, allowing two runs on six hits and three walks with three strikeouts over 5.2 innings. Keller departed an out shy of a quality start after allowing two baserunners in the sixth inning, one of whom came around to score. The 29-year-old threw just 56 of 97 pitches for strikes with only six whiffs, but the two earned runs marked his lowest total in four starts since the All-Star break. He'll carry a 3.86 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 107:37 K:BB across 137.2 innings into a road matchup with the Brewers next week.

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• Pirates' Mitch Keller: Completes just two frames Monday

  Rotowire Jul 29, 2025

  Keller allowed three runs on five hits and three walks while striking out three batters over two innings in a no-decision against San Francisco on Monday. It was a slog from the start for Keller, who allowed three baserunners and one run in the first inning. The Giants tagged him for two more runs in the second, though Keller at least managed to avoid a disastrous frame by striking out two batters with the bases loaded. However, the right-hander finished that inning at 73 pitches -- just 42 of which were strikes -- and didn't return for the third. This was Keller's shortest outing of the campaign and the first time in 20 starts that he's failed to complete five frames. Pittsburgh was able to pull out the win, however, so Keller remains without a loss on his record since June 21.

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• Pirates' Mitch Keller: Sharp in quality start

  Rotowire Jul 13, 2025

  Keller didn't factor into the decision in Sunday's 2-1 win against the Twins, allowing one run on four hits over six innings while recording three strikeouts. Keller turned in another strong outing Sunday, with the only damage coming on a Byron Buxton RBI double in the fourth inning. The right-hander, who was pulled after 83 pitches, has now allowed three earned runs or fewer in seven consecutive starts, compiling a 2.32 ERA with 31 strikeouts and seven walks over 42.2 innings during that stretch. Keller looks locked in heading into the All-Star break, continuing to offer dependable ratios and consistently eating up innings for the non-contending Pirates.

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• Pirates' Mitch Keller: Coughs up two homers

  Rotowire Jul 8, 2025

  Keller did not factor in the decision during Tuesday's loss to Kansas City. He allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits and a walk while striking out five over 6.2 innings. Keller gave up a solo shot to Jac Caglianone in the second inning but held the Royals in check until Nick Loftin's two-run shot in the seventh. It was Keller's first time allowing multiple home runs in a start this season. He's given up three or fewer runs in six consecutive outings, posting a 2.45 ERA over 36.2 frames during that span. He dropped his season ERA to 3.58 with an 89:27 K:BB. Keller's next start is expected to come after the All-Star break.

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• Pirates' Mitch Keller: Blanks Cards across seven frames

  Rotowire Jul 2, 2025

  Keller (3-10) earned the win against the Cardinals on Wednesday, allowing five hits and one walk while striking out seven batters in seven scoreless innings. Keller got off to a shaky start after letting the first three batters he faced on base, but he was able to escape the first frame unscathed. He was lights out after giving up two more baserunners in the third, retiring the last 11 batters he faced before the bullpen came in to complete the shutout and extend the Pittsburgh pitching staff's scoreless streak to 31 innings, per ESPN. Keller has won each of his last two outings after failing to record a win across his previous 15 starts, and he now has a 3.64 ERA and 1.19 WHIP across 106.1 innings this season. He's slated to start against the Royals on the road next week.

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• Pirates' Mitch Keller: Captures second win of 2025

  Rotowire Jun 27, 2025

  Keller (2-10) earned the win against the Mets on Friday, allowing one run on five hits and one walk while striking out four across 5.1 innings. Keller allowed one baserunner or zero in each of the first five innings he pitched, with his lone blemish coming in the fourth, when he yielded a solo home run to Juan Soto. Keller has given up three earned runs or fewer in 10 of his last 11 starts, but he was finally able to get run support from the Pirates batters and came away with his first win since March 28. Keller now has a 3.90 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 77:25 K:BB across 99.1 innings this season. He'll look for his third win in his next start, tentatively slated for next week at home against the Cardinals.

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• Pirates' Mitch Keller: Another quality start

  Rotowire Jun 16, 2025

  Keller didn't factor into the decision in Sunday's extra-inning loss to the Cubs, allowing two runs on three hits and two walks over six innings. He struck out three. Keller owns a middling 4.08 ERA on the season, but he's been an extremely reliable arm on the front end of Pittsburgh's rotation. He's had two blow-up starts, allowing a combined 13 earned runs in those outings, and owns a 3.10 ERA outside of those two appearances. His consistency is shown in his 11 quality starts -- tied for the most in baseball. However, a lack of run support has made Keller's campaign frustrating, as the 29-year-old has posted a 1-9 record through 14 outings. In 2024, his ninth loss came Sept. 1. He's tentatively scheduled to face the Rangers his next time out.

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• Pirates' Mitch Keller: Delivers 10th quality start

  Rotowire Jun 11, 2025

  Keller (1-9) took the loss Tuesday, giving up three runs on eight hits over six innings as the Pirates were downed 3-2 by the Marlins. He struck out four without walking a batter. The right-hander fired 73 of 97 pitches for strikes and piled up an impressive 39 called or swinging strikes en route to his 10th quality start of the season, but Pittsburgh once again failed to give Keller much run support. He's lasted at least six innings in seven straight trips to the mound, posting a 3.95 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 36:8 K:BB through 43.1 innings over that stretch, but he carries a miserable 0-6 record in that span despite that consistency. Keller faces a tough test in his next outing, which lines up to come on the road this weekend against the Cubs.

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• Pirates' Mitch Keller: Solid showing in no-decision

  Rotowire May 24, 2025

  Keller did not factor into the decision Saturday, allowing one run on seven hits and no walks over six innings against the Brewers. He struck out seven. He gave up his fair share of base hits, but Caleb Durbin's second-inning single was the only one that plated a run Saturday. Keller has been particularly sharp of late, posting a 1.89 ERA and a 20:2 K:BB across his past three starts. Aside from a rough outing against the Yankees on April 4, when he allowed seven runs over 3.2 innings, the 29-year-old has been a steady presence on the mound for the Pirates this season. After Saturday's start, Keller now sports a 3.66 ERA and 1.30 WHIP.

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• Pirates' Mitch Keller: Gets little help again in loss

  Rotowire May 14, 2025

  Keller (1-5) took the loss Tuesday as the Pirates fell 2-1 to the Mets, giving up two runs on five hits and a walk over seven innings. He struck out eight. The strikeouts were a season high for Keller, who delivered his second straight quality start and sixth of the campaign on 96 pitches (65 strikes), including 32 called or swinging strikes. The right-hander hasn't gotten into the win column since March 28 due to consistently poor offensive support -- the Bucs have scored only 15 runs combined in his last seven trips to the mound, a stretch in which he's posted a 3.40 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 35:11 K:BB over 42.1 innings. Keller lines up to make his next start at home early next week against the Reds.

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