Buc Notes-Keller short, Santana bomb, Mangum big, AAA help?

PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – The struggles continue for Mitch Keller, the Pirates righty labored throwing 72 pitches in only three innings as the Braves held off a Pirates comeback for a 10-5 win.

It wasn’t just Keller, Cam Sanders came in after Keller giving up three runs on 38 pitches in two-thirds of an inning. Atlanta built a 6-2 lead and even back-to-back homers from Bryan Reynolds and Esmerlyn Valdez and a big day from Jake Mangum couldn’t get the Pirates back.

Even back in it down a run in the ninth, Dennis Santana loaded the bases with two outs before a grand slam from Mike Yastrzemski. Wednesday night, Santana gave up a two-out home run to Joey Bart that were the deciding runs.

But let’s focus on Keller for a minute. He’s making $77 million and just keeps getting worse. A season worst three innings pitched allowing three runs on four hits and two walks

In early May, Keller was 4-1 with a sub-three ERA and now has a 5.14 ERA and has only two wins since May 7. Lefties continue to be an issue, Thursday afternoon he gave up his 11^th home run to a left-hander, a shot by Matt Olson over the Clemente stands and another RBI to left-hand hitting switch-hitter Ozzie Albies.

Below expectation rotation

The starting rotation was supposed to be the Pirates strength. It was what set them apart from other teams.

Coming into Keller’s start on Thursday the Pirates were 11^th in starting pitching ERA at 4.13, which is borderline average, but this rotation was supposed to be great. Pirates are 12^th in starter innings (479), 5^th in hit batters (26), 11^th in batting average against (.240), 8^th in strikeouts (476). These numbers aren’t terrible, but considering what was expected from this group, they’ve been disappointing as a whole.

Imagine where they would be without the breakout year from Braxton Ashcraft.

Mayhem Magnum

It wasn’t just Brandon Lowe and Mason Montgomery coming over in the Mike Burrows trade, Jake Mangum didn’t see a ton of time early, but on the day the Pirates put Oneil Cruz was put on the injured list June 10, Mangum went 3 for 4. He’s started every game but one in center since then. He’s been on base at least once in all but two of those games.

The 30-year-old singled and stole a base to lead off the first. His home run in the fourth brought the Pirates within two runs and he cut that in half with a two-out, RBI double in the sixth. He even singled to lead off the ninth in a 4 for 5 day with his batting average now .311.

Potential call-up

He struggled in his opportunity early this season, but veteran right-hander Jose Urquidy has put some good starts together at AAA. The 31-year-old was 3-0 with a 3.12 ERA and 0.92 WHIP in June. He went three innings allowing only a hit on July 3 and scheduled to start Thursday night for Indianapolis.

As GM Ben Cherington looks for bullpen options, could Urquidy be next?

Up Next

The first-place Brewers open a series at PNC Park in the final three games before the All-Star Break and All-Star Braxton Ashcraft (9-3, 3.24 ERA) starts for the Pirates against Brewers RHP Brandon Sproat (3-4, 5.13 ERA). Dan Zangrilli hosts the North Shore Tavern Leadoff Show at 5:45 with first pitch at 6:40 on 93.7 The Fan.