PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Pirates starter Mitch Keller has struggled for much of the last two months. What he said he can do during the All-Star Break to get him back to where he was the first six weeks of the season.
On May 7, Keller was 4-1 with a 2.87 ERA, now after his final start before the break, 6-7 with a 5.14 ERA (that's a 7-plus ERA since May 7). Thursday he was surprised to be pulled for his shortest stint of the year, just three innings. But he threw 72 pitches in those three innings and as he said he ‘wasn’t good’.
“I just didn't think he was as sharp,” said Pirates manager Don Kelly after a 10-5 loss to Atlanta. “Seemed like the finish wasn't there and then 35 pitches in the third inning and got up into the 70s, just didn't think he was as crisp.”
As off as he seems, the 30-year-old says it’s about a little thing here or there. Kelly thinks some time off might be what he needs to get back on track.
“Just being able to get some more detailed work in with the longer break,” Keller said. “I got three extra days up until the All-Star Break, so I think it would be a good time to really hone in on some mechanic things and just some pitching things too that I can get better at for the second half of the year.”
In mechanical things Keller is referring to his delivery. With likely 10 days between starts, a chance to really asses the video and potentially have time to make a delivery correction or two.
Keller throws seven different pitches, so it’s not about adding another, rather maybe focusing on a few he’s confident in.
“Just more on the lines of tightening up the pitches, where I want to execute them at and throw them in the zone,” Keller said. “Just sequencing them off different pitches, I think that’s a huge point of emphasis going forward.”
Both Kelly and Keller said injury or fatigue is not a concern. He feels like he always does at the midpoint of the year. This year is different in that the Pirates are in playoff contention, and they need Keller to find it, and quickly.
Bucs starter’s ERA now 5.14 after loss to Braves
Bucs starter’s ERA now 5.14 after loss to Braves
