Three observations from the Pirates' 6-1 win over the Orioles here today at LECOM Park: 

• Mitch Keller said after his last start that he changed the grip of his changeup, a pitch he turned to 7% of the time last season, in an effort to get more consistent feel and shape. The goal was to be more competitive in the zone with it and to generate more swing and miss. Today, he turned to it seven more times and was at least around the zone with it rather consistently. Two of those pitches were fouled off, one ended in a called strike and there was one swing and miss. Adding more changeups into the mix might make him even more unpredictable. Keller's sweeper really made a difference today. He used it as much as his fastball (11 times), was hitting his spots and finished off three of his four strikeouts with it. Good to see no walks and 31 of 45 pitches for strikes, too. 

• Gregory Soto was quick and effective in the fifth inning here. He threw eight pitches, including three to get the first two outs of the inning. He struck out Dylan Beavers with a slider to end it. Soto was sitting around 96, 97 mph with his sinker and fastball. The former is his bread and butter, a pitch that complements the slider. I really think the Pirates will get good value out of a left-handed reliever like him in the latter innings. 

• I know there have been some questions surrounding Termarr Johnson the past year or so. He's slipped in prospect rankings and has experienced the ups and downs associated with coming up through the minor leagues, but he's continued to operate with a focus on simply getting better every day. Plus, he's only 21. Still time to grow. So far this spring, Johnson is standing out in a good way. He's having quality at-bats and putting himself in good situations to be productive. He's produced two multi-hit performances in five games and plated two runs with a single in the Pirates' five-run seventh inning today.