MITCH KELLER NEWS

Dominates with eight scoreless Keller (11-8) earned the win Friday, allowing four hits and one walk over eight scoreless innings against the Cubs. He struck out six.

Impact Keller needed only 93 pitches to complete eight innings, which marked his second longest outing of the season in stifling the Cubs to earn his 11th win. The first-time All-Star had struggled in his first five starts following the break with a 9.11 ERA over 26.2 innings. However, in his past three starts he's regained his All-Star form, allowing only three earned runs with 25 strikeouts in 20 innings for a 1.35 ERA and an 11.3 K:9. Keller will look to continue his next start, currently scheduled to take place next Wednesday in Kansas City.

AUGUST 26, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Earns 10th win Keller (10-8) allowed two earned runs on seven hits and a walk while striking out 12 across six innings to earn the win Saturday against the Twins.

Impact Keller had a rough three-start stretch coming out of the All-Star break but seems to have emerged out of the slump. He dominated the Twins to rack up his highest strikeout total in a game since May 14 and backed the effort with 18 swinging strikes. Keller has gotten back on track across his last three outings, maintaining a 3.18 ERA with a 23:4 K:BB across 17 frames.

AUGUST 20, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Fans seven in no-decision Keller allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits and three walks over six innings in Game 1 of Sunday's doubleheader against the Reds. He struck out seven and did not factor in th...

Impact Keller gave up one run in the fourth and fifth innings during his first quality start since July 8. He coughed up eight homers in his five previous outings since July 8, resulting in a brutal 9.11 ERA. Keller lowered his season ERA to 4.27 with a 161:46 K:BB across 149.2 innings. His next start is lined up to be in Minnesota.

AUGUST 14, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Winless streak continues Keller came away with a no-decision Tuesday in Pittsburgh's 8-6 loss to Atlanta, giving up three runs on nine hits over five innings. He struck out four without walking a batter.

Impact The right-hander rebounded somewhat from a brutal last outing that saw the Brewers tag him for eight runs in five innings, but Keller still has yet to regain his stellar early-season form. The 27-year-old hasn't picked up a win since late June, going 0-5 over his last seven starts with a 7.22 ERA, 1.73 WHIP and 36:15 K:BB through 38.2 innings. He'll try to find a way to get back on track in his next start, which could come at home this weekend against the Reds.

AUGUST 9, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Tagged for eight runs Keller (9-8) took the loss Thursday, allowing eight runs on nine hits and three walks over five innings against the Brewers. He struck out five.

Impact It was another rough outing for Keller -- he's now allowed 24 runs over his last four starts (21.2 innings). Overall, his ERA is now up to 4.35 with a 1.25 WHIP and 150:43 K:BB across 15 starts (89 innings) this season. Keller will look to right the ship in his next start, currently scheduled for next week against Atlanta.

AUGUST 4, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Strikes out eight in loss Keller (9-7) took the loss Friday, allowing two runs on six hits and three walks over 5.2 innings against the Phillies. He struck out eight.

Impact Keller recorded at least eight strikeouts for the ninth time across 22 starts this season, but he finished one out away from a quality start and suffered his seventh loss. The right-hander came into the contest having allowed 14 runs over his past two starts, so Friday's outing was certainly a bounce-back performance, though still not good enough to pull out a win against Zach Wheeler and the Phillies. At one point, Keller was in the midst of a breakout campaign and the Pirates were contending for a division title, but his recent struggles have marred some of the excellent work he did earlier in the campaign. Either way, he's already eclipsed the career-high strikeout mark he set last year (138) and is poised to continue adding to that total despite Pittsburgh falling completely out of the playoff picture.

JULY 29, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Roughed up in loss Keller (9-6) allowed six runs on nine hits and a walk over five innings Sunday, striking out seven and taking a loss against the Angels.

Impact Keller turned in another poor performance, this time highlighted by a season-high three home runs allowed. His ERA has jumped from 3.31 to 4.01 after giving up 14 runs in his last two starts. The 27-year-old righty has posted a 5.51 ERA over his last 11 outings. Keller will look things around in his next starts which is currently projected to be at home against the Phillies.

JULY 24, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Tagged for eight Tuesday Keller (9-5) took the loss Tuesday, allowing eight runs on 10 hits and two walks over six innings against the Guardians. He struck out one.

Impact Cleveland did most of their damage against Keller early, putting up a five-spot on the right-hander in the first inning. It's a tough start to the second half for Keller, who posted a 2.16 ERA in his final four starts before the break. Overall, his ERA is up to 3.73 with a 1.16 WHIP and 130:36 K:BB through 20 starts (123 innings) this season. Keller will look to bounce back in his next outing, currently scheduled for next week in San Diego.

JULY 19, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Pitching Ninja's MLB All-Star Game preview: Gerrit Cole, Zac Gallen and more

The stars will be on full display in the All-Star Game, and so will their arsenal of filthy pitches. Here's a primer of what to expect in Se...

JULY 10, 2023

Tosses seven scoreless frames Keller did not factor in the decision against Arizona on Saturday, tossing seven scoreless innings during which he allowed one hit and five walks while striking out four batters.

Impact Keller was a bit wild in the contest, throwing just 57 of 99 pitches for a strike and walking a season-high five hitters. However, the free passes didn't hurt him since he didn't allow more than one in any frame and yielded just one hit (a sixth-inning single by Ketel Marte). Following a rough patch in late May and early June, Keller has notched four quality starts over his past six outings, a span during which he's posted a 2.68 ERA and 1.03 WHIP. The right-hander heads into the All-Star break in the midst of a career-best campaign in which he's recorded a 3.31 ERA, 1.12 WHP and 129:34 K:BB over 117 innings while posting a 9-4 record.

JULY 9, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Takes fourth loss Keller (9-4) took the loss Monday versus the Dodgers, allowing five runs (four earned) on eight hits and a walk while striking out seven over five innings.

Impact The Dodgers did their damage early in the game, as they managed just one hit over three innings versus two Pirates relievers. Keller had a couple of stumbles in June -- he's allowed exactly one run in three of his last six starts, but he's also given up at least four runs in the other three outings in that span. The right-hander is now at a 3.52 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 125:29 K:BB through 110 innings over 18 starts. Keller is projected for a road start this weekend against the Diamondbacks.

JULY 4, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Picks up ninth win Keller (9-3) allowed one earned run on four hits and two walks while striking out five across six innings to earn the win Wednesday against the Padres.

Impact Keller allowed a pair of hitters to reach base in his first two innings but settled in to quiet the Padres thereafter. Despite generating fewer swings and misses of late -- he had only three swinging strikes across 104 total pitches Wednesday -- he has allowed only one earned run in three of his last four starts. Keller is also tied for fourth in the majors with nine wins, and he's picked up four positive decisions in his last seven outings.

JUNE 29, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Shohei Ohtani, Zac Gallen highlight Pitching Ninja's filthiest pitches of MLB season

Pitching Ninja returns with his breakdown of the filthiest pitches from the first half of the Major League Baseball season.

JUNE 27, 2023

Excellent in no-decision Keller allowed one run on five hits and no walks while striking out five batters over seven innings in Thursday's no-decision against Miami.

Impact Miami starter Braxton Garrett made more noise with 13 strikeouts, but Keller matched him on the scoreboard with just one earned run over seven frames. The Pittsburgh hurler allowed just only extra-base hit (a double) and notched his 10th quality start of the campaign, tied for ninth-most in the league. While Keller has had some bumps of late -- he came into Thursday with a 6.14 ERA and 1.50 WHIP over his past five starts -- he's still putting up a career-best campaign overall. Through 16 starts, he's already notched a career-best eight wins while posting a 3.45 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 113:26 K:BB over 99 innings.

JUNE 23, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Taken down by Brewers Keller (8-3) took the loss against Milwaukee on Saturday, allowing four runs on five hits and three walks while striking out seven batters over five innings.

Impact Keller yielded a pair of two-run innings, which was enough to send him to defeat in a game during which Pittsburgh couldn't push any runs across the plate. The right-hander has given up four or more runs in four of his past five starts after doing so only once through his initial 10 outings. The rough stretch has pushed his season ERA to 3.62 after it sat at 2.44 less than a month ago. Keller is still racking up strikeouts -- he's fanned at least seven all but once during the recent downturn -- so it's likely wise to stick with him in most fantasy formats to see if he's able to turn things back around. He's tentatively lined up for a road start in Miami his next time out.

JUNE 17, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Rebounds against Mets Keller (8-2) earned the win Sunday, allowing one run on two hits and two walks over seven innings against the Mets. He struck out seven.

Impact Keller had been struggling coming into Sunday's matchup -- he pitched to a 7.79 ERA, allowing 15 runs on 25 hits, over his last three starts (17.1 innings). He responded with a dominant performance against the Mets, allowing a lone run on Jeff McNeil's fourth-inning homer. Keller lowered his ERA to 3.41 with a 1.11 WHIP and an impressive 101:23 K:BB through 14 starts (87 innings) this season. He'll look to keep rolling in his next outing, currently lined up as a road matchup with the Brewers.

JUNE 11, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Hit around by Athletics Keller (7-2) took the loss Tuesday, allowing five runs on eight hits and four walks over 5.1 innings in a 11-2 loss against Oakland. He struck out one.

Impact Keller struggled Tuesday, tying his season high of four walks while setting a new low in strikeouts. The outing continued a concerning stretch of starts for Keller, who has accrued a 7.79 ERA and a 17:7 K/BB while allowing 25 hits over his last three starts (17.1 innings) after holding a 2.44 ERA with 77 strikeouts in his first 10 appearances (62.2 innings). Though fantasy managers were likely disappointed by his struggles against MLB's lowest scoring offense, they shouldn't hesitate to come back to Keller for his next start, which is expected to come against the Cubs at Wrigley Field.

JUNE 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Strikes out eight in seventh win Keller (7-1) earned the win Wednesday, allowing four runs on 10 hits and one walk across six innings during a 9-4 victory over the Giants. He struck out eight.

Impact Keller allowed a season-high 10 hits, but he got plenty of run support and cruised to his seventh win. The right-hander has given up 10 runs over his past two starts (12 innings) after surrendering just 13 across his previous nine appearances (58 innings). His ERA has ballooned to 3.25, but he still holds a superb WHIP (1.08) and K:BB (93:17) across 74.2 innings. Despite back-to-back rocky starts, Keller remains the ace of the Pirates' pitching staff and will look to reclaim his dominant form in his next start, which is tentatively scheduled during a three-game home stand versus Oakland.

JUNE 1, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Wins ugly Friday Keller (6-1) picked up the win Friday over the Mariners, allowing six runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out eight over six-plus innings.

Impact Keller versus George Kirby looked like a pitchers' duel on paper, but it ended up being a slugfest in practice. Keller was taken deep twice in his worst start since Opening Day, but he was still the better of the two starters. He's rarely one to give up many homers, having allowed just seven across 11 starts this season. The rough outing raised Keller's ERA to 3.01 with a 1.02 WHIP and 85:16 K:BB through 68.2 innings. He'll look to put this one behind him next week in San Francisco.

MAY 27, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Aaron Judge, Nolan Arenado headline Ben Verlander's team of the week

FOX Sports MLB analyst Ben Verlander's latest team of the week features Aaron Judge and Nolan Arenado.

MAY 22, 2023

Impressive once more Keller did not factor into the decision Saturday, allowing two runs on three hits over six innings against the Diamondbacks. He struck out eight.

Impact Keller worked his way through the Diamondback's lineup with relative ease, retiring 16 straight batters after allowing a solo homer to Ketel Marte in the first inning and racking up eight strikeouts without walking a single batter. Keller has been one of the best pitchers in baseball over the past month, allowing just five earned runs in his last five starts (33.0 innings), picking up four wins and boasting an incredible 47:3 K/BB over that stretch. The right-hander was on his way to picking up another win Saturday, handing the ball off to the bullpen with a 3-2 lead after six innings, but had the win spoiled after Pavin Smith launched a two-run home run off Robert Stephenson to take the lead in the seventh. Keller is slated to take the mound next in a road series against the Mariners, who strikeout at the third-highest rate in MLB.

MAY 21, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Career-high 13 strikeouts in win Keller (5-1) earned the win Sunday, tossing seven scoreless innings in which he allowed four hits during a 4-0 win over the Orioles. He struck out 13 and did not issue a walk.

Impact Keller recorded a career-high 13 strikeouts, marking his second game of the season with double digits, and hasn't allowed a run over his past two starts (16 innings), lowering his ERA to 2.38. The right-hander has shown flashes before, but he's currently in the best stretch of his career and has a ridiculous 69:14 K:BB over 56.2 innings to start the season. Keller will look to continue his scoreless streak next time out, which is tentatively scheduled for the finale of a three-game weekend set versus Arizona.

MAY 14, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Tosses complete-game shutout Keller (4-1) earned the win Monday, tossing a complete game shutout in which he allowed four hits and one walk during a 2-0 win over the Rockies. He struck out eight.

Impact Keller struck out at least eight batters for a third straight outing and tossed his first career complete game shutout, marking the first time a Pirate has reached that feat since Jameson Taillon did during the 2018 season. The right-hander has been superb to start the 2023 campaign and currently sports a 2.72 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 56:14 K:BB through eight starts (49.2 innings). Keller will look to maintain his momentum next time out, which is tentatively scheduled for a three-game weekend set in Baltimore.

MAY 9, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Strikes out eight in loss Keller (3-1) took the loss Wednesday, allowing five runs (one earned) on five hits and one walk over five innings during an 8-1 loss to Tampa Bay. He struck out eight.

Impact Keller was sharp but a pair of errors and McClanahan's dominant outing were too much for the right-hander to overcome. He was able to get through only five innings, snapping a streak of five straight quality starts, but he did strike out at least eight batters for the third time this season. Across seven starts (40.2 innings), Keller sports a 3.32 ERA, a 1.20 WHIP and a 48:13 K:BB. He'll look to maintain his strong production during his next start, which is tentatively scheduled to take place during the first matchup of a three-game versus Colorado.

MAY 4, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Strikeouts 10 in win Keller (3-0) earned the win Thursday, allowing two runs on five hits and a walk over six innings against the Dodgers. He struck out 10.

Impact Keller allowed a pair of runs in the first inning but managed to skirt further damage with a 10-strikeout performance, setting a new season high. The 27-year-old Keller now has five consecutive quality starts, lowering his ERA to 3.53 with a 1.21 WHIP and 40:12 K:BB over 35.2 innings. He'll look to keep his breakout season rolling in his next outing, tentatively scheduled for next week in Tampa Bay.

APRIL 27, 2023 • ROTOWIRE