Mitch Keller's outing a reminder that Pirates need more from starting rotation

WASHINGTON — Paul Skenes isn’t the only starting pitcher the Pirates need to get back on track.

There’s also been ample and valid concern over Mitch Keller ... and what he did Friday figures to turn that up a few notches.

Despite working 17 1/3 innings and pitching to a 3.64 ERA over his previous three outings, Keller struggled during a 9-5 loss to the Nationals at Nationals Park, allowing a season-high three home runs.

“We have to keep working with [Keller],” Pirates manager Don Kelly said, “and get him back to what he’s capable of doing.”

As a team, the Nationals hit five and now lead all MLB teams with 85 since May 6. When looking at the entire season, only the Yankees (126) have hit more home runs than Washington (122).

This was the 18th start for Keller this season, and he's now allowed at least five runs in a third of those. Worse, four of those have come within his past seven starts. Over his past 10 starts, Keller has a 6.92 ERA.

For the Pirates to gain traction and avoid bobbing along a little above or a little below .500, they must avoid outings like the one they got on Friday from their longest-tenured pitcher.

Along with allowing those three home runs, Keller gave up 12 batted balls with an exit velocity of 95 mph or greater, though he did retire 10 of the final 11 men he faced to cover six innings.

"Not happy with the results, obviously," Keller “said. “But getting through six ... I'm trying to find the positives going forward. I need to turn it around."

This series was viewed as a matchup between two of the top three offenses in baseball, but only the Nationals (46-43) got anything going on this night.

First baseman Luis Garcia Jr., the reigning National League Player of the Week after going 10 for 20 with three doubles, three home runs and 10 RBIs, remained as hot as the 100-degree temperature at first pitch with a pair of home runs and three more RBIs. He leads all of MLB with 40 RBIs since May 24.

The succession of homers started in the first inning when Garcia hammered a 2-1 cutter left over the middle of the plate out to right.

That was the first of two solo shots for the Nationals, who got one from left fielder Daylen Lile the next inning. This time, Keller made a quality pitch, a sweeper low and away, but Lile went 417 feet on a line to center field.

"Some of the pitches I threw, they were all over it," Keller said.

The Pirates answered in the top of the third with a solo home run from Bryan Reynolds, when he launched a middle-middle cutter to center. But the Nationals went right back to work in the bottom half.

Later in the third, designated hitter Jose Tena hit Washington’s third homer of the night, a two-run shot, when Keller allowed a 1-0 fastball to catch too much plate. It was the longest of the night at 434 feet.

Lile followed with a line-drive double to right on what was actually a solid pitch from Keller, similar to what Lile hit in his first at-bat.

Although Keller improved, retiring the final nine men he faced, the right-hander allowed five earned runs on eight hits over six innings, raising his season ERA to 5.02.

"They’re a good team," Keller said. "They have hitters up and down the lineup. They’re definitely not afraid to swing it.”

The Pirates had an opportunity to climb back into the game, loading the bases with two outs in the seventh inning, but Reynolds chased a slider out of the zone for strike three against Nationals reliever Clayton Beeter.

In the bottom half, Garcia stamped out any hope Pittsburgh might’ve had with his 413-foot homer off Isaac Mattson, giving Washington a 7-1 lead. Lile added his second homer of the night, another two-run shot, in the eighth.

The Pirates rallied in the ninth, getting RBI doubles from Brandon Lowe, Bryan Reynolds, Esmerlyn Valdez and Nick Gonzales to cut the deficit to four. But Pittsburgh couldn't get any closer.

Valdez led the way with three hits. Konnor Griffin, Reynolds, Jake Mangum and Jared Triolo all had two apiece. Mangum stole two bases, Griffin one, while Triolo had a pair of doubles. But it obviously wasn't enough to climb out of a large hole.

"To finish strong like that, it’s a good sign," Pirates manager Don Kelly said. "But came up short, which is frustrating."

Especially when you think bigger picture. The Pirates need their starting rotation to be a strength. However, since June 1, that group has a 4.96 ERA, which ranks 20th in MLB.

"The starting rotation is the foundation,” Kelly said. “We need them big time."

Jason Mackey: Jason.Mackey@pirates.com and @JMackey_PGH on X.