Keller still trying to recapture early-season success

ATLANTA -- Over his first eight starts this season, Mitch Keller was solid, as the 30-year-old right-hander went 4-1 with a 2.87 ERA through those 47 innings.

It’s been a rough ride since.

In Keller’s four starts leading up to Friday’s series opener against the Braves at Truist Park, he went 1-1 with a 7.59 ERA.

Friday’s 6-3 loss to Atlanta was Keller’s latest disappointing outing. Keller allowed six earned runs on seven hits with three walks and four strikeouts over 4 2/3 innings. It’s the third time in five starts that Keller has allowed six or more runs. It was the third time in his 13 starts this season that Keller did not make it through five innings.

Keller had a 2.87 ERA on May 7 and, after Friday’s loss, Keller’s ERA is now 4.81.

“I felt all right,” Keller said. “I just wasn’t sharp.”

Mauricio Dubón continued to torment Keller as the Braves shortstop went 2-for-3 with three RBIs, including a two-run home run and an RBI double against Pittsburgh’s starter.

The home run went a Statcast-projected 405 feet as Keller served Dubón a middle-middle curveball.

“Yeah, it was right down the middle,” Keller said.

The Braves scored three runs on four hits in the bottom of the fifth, and manager Don Kelly said Atlanta jumped on Keller the third time through the order.

“I thought he threw the ball well at times, but the one pitch to Dubón looked like a hanging [curveball],” Kelly said. “He left it up, and he got all of it. In that [fifth] inning, there was some solid contact he couldn’t get through. There in that last inning, it looked like they jumped him and [were] being aggressive early in the count. They got some barrels.”

“They’re always aggressive,” Keller said. “They [have] a really good lineup. It’s probably why they have the best record in baseball. They just did better than I did tonight.”

In Dubón’s prior 10 at-bats against Keller, Dubón was hitting .400. Keller couldn't put his finger on why he’s struggled recently.

“I’m just not as sharp and I have to figure it out,” Keller said.

Keller has 20 strikeouts in his last 26 innings pitched, and Kelly said perhaps not putting hitters away with two strikes could be a reason for Keller’s recent struggles.

“I think that, with two strikes, [it’s not] being able to put guys away,” Kelly said. “I think it’s a key to pitching, being ahead and being able to put guys away. … I know that Mitch is going to work hard to get out of it.”

Keller has a 10.97 ERA in five career starts (21 1/3 innings) at Truist Park.

Though Keller struggled, Pittsburgh’s bullpen had another strong outing after recent struggles as Pirate relievers covered 3 1/3 innings with just two hits allowed.

“I thought [Evan] Sisk came in and settled things down,” Keller said. “[Dennis] Santana was really efficient and had a really quick inning. [Brandan] Bidois threw the ball really well.”