Despite being a central figure in trade speculations leading up to Thursday’s deadline, veteran right-hander Mitch Keller ultimately remained with the Pittsburgh Pirates, allowing him to concentrate fully on the remainder of the season. His immediate focus shifts to Sunday afternoon’s series finale against the Colorado Rockies in Denver, where he will take the mound looking to guide his team to a crucial victory in this pivotal MLB baseball matchup.
Opposing Keller will be rookie right-hander Bradley Blalock, who, despite a challenging start to his season, carries the hopes of the Colorado Rockies. This game holds particular significance for the Rockies, as a win would secure their first home series sweep of the year, a milestone that has eluded them throughout the current campaign, adding intense pressure to their baseball analysis.
Compounding the Rockies’ pitching concerns, key right-handed closer Seth Halvorsen’s availability for the rest of the season remains uncertain following an injury to his pitching elbow sustained in Saturday’s ninth inning. Interim manager Warren Schaeffer expressed clear discouragement regarding Halvorsen’s status, signaling a potentially significant setback for the team’s bullpen and future game plans.
While Mitch Keller’s overall win-loss record of 4-10 might not immediately impress, a deeper analysis of his 22 starts reveals a pitcher performing significantly better than his record suggests. Over his most recent nine outings, Keller has maintained an impressive 3.02 ERA, a testament to his consistent improvement and effectiveness on the mound, highlighting his strong individual baseball news story.
Furthermore, Keller has secured victories in his last three decisions, a stark contrast to a challenging period earlier in the season when he endured ten consecutive losses from April 4 to June 21. During that extended losing streak, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ offensive support was notably absent, scoring more than two runs in only one of those contests, a critical factor in his previous stats.
Keller’s only previous loss in Denver occurred on July 16, 2022, a game where he surrendered just one unearned run in a tight 2-0 Colorado victory. He now aims to salvage the final game of the current series for the Pittsburgh Pirates, who have dropped their last two matchups, including a high-scoring 8-5 loss on Saturday despite the highly anticipated start from Paul Skenes.
The Pittsburgh Pirates entered the weekend riding a five-game winning streak, demonstrating strong momentum, but dramatically faltered in Friday night’s game. They initially built a commanding 9-run lead in the first inning and led 15-6 after batting in the top of the fifth, only to collapse and ultimately lose 17-16 after a four-run fifth and a five-run ninth inning rally by the Colorado Rockies.
Pittsburgh manager Don Kelly reflected on the team’s performance, emphasizing the consistent strength of their pitching staff throughout the year. “Our pitching has been so good all year long,” Kelly stated, adding, “When you look at the foundation they’ve set from the starters to the bullpen, and the way we’ve gone about it, I definitely think Friday was a blip. Some guys may be pitching here for the first time, too,” offering candid baseball analysis.
For Bradley Blalock, a significant turning point occurred on May 10 when he allowed a staggering 12 runs in just 3 2/3 innings during a crushing 21-0 defeat to the San Diego Padres, leading to his immediate optioning to Triple-A Albuquerque. However, since his recall on July 7, Blalock has shown remarkable resilience, boasting a 1-0 record with an impressive 1.59 ERA over three starts, a resurgence he attributes to a confidence-boosting conversation with Rockies minor league pitching coordinator Scott Oberg.
