Mitch Keller turned in his fourth straight quality start today at PNC Park in the Pirates' 2-1 victory over the Brewers, charged with one run on seven hits while striking out seven.
He's not alone in that success, either.
The rotation as a whole is tied for the second-most quality starts (12) in Major League Baseball in May and, through 53 games overall, their 25 quality starts are third-most in the majors, trailing the Royals (26) and Phillies (28). Also, their 2.83 rotation ERA ranks sixth. Paul Skenes has four straight quality starts and ranks second -- alongside Keller -- in the majors with eight. Bailey Falter has three in May, Andrew Heaney one.
"Felt pretty good. Everything's been working pretty well," Keller said of today's start. "The game plan going in has been great. (Joey) Bart and (Henry Davis) have been great. We really haven't had to shake much at all. Just trying to get in a good rhythm."
• Oneil Cruz was challenged by a 10-year-old fan named John Block, seated behind the home dugout, to record a hit this afternoon. Cruz promised Block a bat if he did. Little did Cruz know that hit would end up being a 114.3-mph triple to the right-center gap that scored Isiah Kiner-Falefa for the eventual game-winning run:
"I took it like a challenge from the kid, and I couldn't let him down," Cruz said via major-league coach and interpreter Stephen Morales. "That's what happened. I took it as a challenge to myself to do good."
When Cruz handed over the bat, he said, he spoke with Block's dad, who is also named John. The elder Block told Cruz that his son looks up to him and wanted to be like him someday.
"I did the same thing as a kid," Cruz said. "I was always looking for my favorite players that I wanted to be like. It makes me proud and makes me happy that someone wants to be like me."
• With one out in the seventh, Brice Turang stepped to the plate for the Brewers, opposite Caleb Ferguson, with the bases loaded. He stroked an inside sinker to Adam Frazier at second base. Frazier fielded the ball on his glove side, spun and, rather than trying to turn a double play, he threw home to get Sal Frelick at the plate and preserve a 1-1 tie.
It was a big moment in the game, and Frazier had it all clocked out, hoping he'd get the ball.
"You gotta know the runners and Turang can really run, everybody on base right then could really run," Frazier told me. "It would've been a really tough double play to spin and go to second with how soft it was hit, which we might've been able to get it, but you're trying to prevent the run. It would've been a high-risk play on the double play with him running. So I was just trying to get the guy at home. I think Frelick was at third and I knew he could run. It took a good spin and a throw to get him and prevent the run."
• Spencer Horwitz is hitting .259 since returning from wrist surgery. He doubled twice today, with the first driving home Bryan Reynolds in the first inning.
It's been a process for Horwitz, he acknowledged, after working through rehab assignments with Altoona and Indianapolis, now facing major-league pitching.
"I think nothing can fully get you ready," Horwitz said. "Even spring training, you're still not fully battle-tested until you're getting those consistent at-bats every day. You gotta keep working, and that's what I'm going to keep doing. Just try to be the best version of me."
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THE ASYLUM
Greg Macafee
1:49 am - 05.25.2025NORTH SHOREExtra Bases: Keller not alone in recent success
Mitch Keller turned in his fourth straight quality start today at PNC Park in the Pirates' 2-1 victory over the Brewers, charged with one run on seven hits while striking out seven.
He's not alone in that success, either.
The rotation as a whole is tied for the second-most quality starts (12) in Major League Baseball in May and, through 53 games overall, their 25 quality starts are third-most in the majors, trailing the Royals (26) and Phillies (28). Also, their 2.83 rotation ERA ranks sixth. Paul Skenes has four straight quality starts and ranks second -- alongside Keller -- in the majors with eight. Bailey Falter has three in May, Andrew Heaney one.
"Felt pretty good. Everything's been working pretty well," Keller said of today's start. "The game plan going in has been great. (Joey) Bart and (Henry Davis) have been great. We really haven't had to shake much at all. Just trying to get in a good rhythm."
• Oneil Cruz was challenged by a 10-year-old fan named John Block, seated behind the home dugout, to record a hit this afternoon. Cruz promised Block a bat if he did. Little did Cruz know that hit would end up being a 114.3-mph triple to the right-center gap that scored Isiah Kiner-Falefa for the eventual game-winning run:
"I took it like a challenge from the kid, and I couldn't let him down," Cruz said via major-league coach and interpreter Stephen Morales. "That's what happened. I took it as a challenge to myself to do good."
When Cruz handed over the bat, he said, he spoke with Block's dad, who is also named John. The elder Block told Cruz that his son looks up to him and wanted to be like him someday.
"I did the same thing as a kid," Cruz said. "I was always looking for my favorite players that I wanted to be like. It makes me proud and makes me happy that someone wants to be like me."
• With one out in the seventh, Brice Turang stepped to the plate for the Brewers, opposite Caleb Ferguson, with the bases loaded. He stroked an inside sinker to Adam Frazier at second base. Frazier fielded the ball on his glove side, spun and, rather than trying to turn a double play, he threw home to get Sal Frelick at the plate and preserve a 1-1 tie.
It was a big moment in the game, and Frazier had it all clocked out, hoping he'd get the ball.
"You gotta know the runners and Turang can really run, everybody on base right then could really run," Frazier told me. "It would've been a really tough double play to spin and go to second with how soft it was hit, which we might've been able to get it, but you're trying to prevent the run. It would've been a high-risk play on the double play with him running. So I was just trying to get the guy at home. I think Frelick was at third and I knew he could run. It took a good spin and a throw to get him and prevent the run."
• Spencer Horwitz is hitting .259 since returning from wrist surgery. He doubled twice today, with the first driving home Bryan Reynolds in the first inning.
It's been a process for Horwitz, he acknowledged, after working through rehab assignments with Altoona and Indianapolis, now facing major-league pitching.
"I think nothing can fully get you ready," Horwitz said. "Even spring training, you're still not fully battle-tested until you're getting those consistent at-bats every day. You gotta keep working, and that's what I'm going to keep doing. Just try to be the best version of me."
Want to participate in our comments?
Want an ad-free experience?
Become a member, and enjoy premium benefits! Make your voice heard on the Steelers, Penguins and Pirates, and hear right back from tens of thousands of fellow Pittsburgh sports fans worldwide! Plus, access all our premium content, including Dejan Kovacevic columns, Friday Insider, daily Live Qs with the staff, more! And yeah, that's right, no ads at all!
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