"Just wasn't sharp" was how Mitch Keller summed up his outing in the Pirates' 6-3 loss to the Braves on Saturday.
Keller threw 4.2 innings in the loss, having allowed seven hits, six runs, three walks, four strikes and one home run.
There were two turning points in the game that handed the game to the Braves. First was Mauricio Dubón's two-run home run in the third that erased the Pirates' 3-1 lead:
"I mean it's right down the middle," Keller said of the homer.
That was followed by a three-run fifth inning to end Keller's night.
"I mean, they're always aggressive," Keller said of the fifth. "They got a really good lineup over there. It's probably why they've got the best record in baseball. They just did better than I did tonight."
The loss marked Keller's second straight start in which he’s pitched less than five innings and allowed six or more runs. His slump extends beyond just these last two starts. He’s given up four or more runs in four of his last five starts, a stretch that has tanked his ERA. Keller had a 2.87 ERA before this five-start stretch, and it's now fallen to 4.81 over 13 starts.
Keller couldn't pinpoint a real reason why things have taken a turn for the worse for him as of late, saying he's "just not as sharp. I got to figure it out."
Don Kelly offered his own assessment of what's been behind Keller's struggles as of late.
"I think that to me, just maybe with two strikes, being able to put guys away," Kelly said. "I think that it is a key to pitching, getting ahead and then being able to put them away when it's tougher to finish them. During that last inning, it looked like they jumped 'em. We're being more aggressive early in the count, and got some barrels."
Kelly expressed confidence in Keller's ability to break out of it, saying they "fully know that Mitch is going to continue to work hard to get out of it."
THE ASYLUM
Keller still 'just not as sharp'
"Just wasn't sharp" was how Mitch Keller summed up his outing in the Pirates' 6-3 loss to the Braves on Saturday.
Keller threw 4.2 innings in the loss, having allowed seven hits, six runs, three walks, four strikes and one home run.
There were two turning points in the game that handed the game to the Braves. First was Mauricio Dubón's two-run home run in the third that erased the Pirates' 3-1 lead:
"I mean it's right down the middle," Keller said of the homer.
That was followed by a three-run fifth inning to end Keller's night.
"I mean, they're always aggressive," Keller said of the fifth. "They got a really good lineup over there. It's probably why they've got the best record in baseball. They just did better than I did tonight."
The loss marked Keller's second straight start in which he’s pitched less than five innings and allowed six or more runs. His slump extends beyond just these last two starts. He’s given up four or more runs in four of his last five starts, a stretch that has tanked his ERA. Keller had a 2.87 ERA before this five-start stretch, and it's now fallen to 4.81 over 13 starts.
Keller couldn't pinpoint a real reason why things have taken a turn for the worse for him as of late, saying he's "just not as sharp. I got to figure it out."
Don Kelly offered his own assessment of what's been behind Keller's struggles as of late.
"I think that to me, just maybe with two strikes, being able to put guys away," Kelly said. "I think that it is a key to pitching, getting ahead and then being able to put them away when it's tougher to finish them. During that last inning, it looked like they jumped 'em. We're being more aggressive early in the count, and got some barrels."
Kelly expressed confidence in Keller's ability to break out of it, saying they "fully know that Mitch is going to continue to work hard to get out of it."
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