The return of Mitch Keller did not go as planned.
But it might not have been as bad as the first glance would indicate.
Making his first major league start in nearly two months, the control problems that plagued Keller all season showed up again Sunday afternoon at PNC Park, albeit in a different way. He left plenty of pitches over the heart of the zone, resulting in eight hits, four runs and a 15-4 Pirates loss to the Phillies.
With the exception of the walks, many of the problems that had been present for Keller all season. The control. The reduced spin on the breaking pitches -- the slider averaged 2,323 RPM of spin, down from his season average of about 2,400 this year and 2,661 RPM average as a rookie in 2019. The abundance of hanging pitches:
On the afternoon, the Phillies swung at 43 of Keller’s 80 pitches, but only missed four times. They had 11 hard-hit balls registering an exit velocity of 95 mph.
But postgame, most of the talk was positive.
“I felt really good out there, honestly body-wise and everything, mentality, confidence,” Keller said. “I had hitters 0-2, 1-2, 2-2, I just have to execute a little bit better and get the ball down a little bit better with my offspeed, slider and curveball.”
“I think his demeanor on the field was much more confident, which was very encouraging to see," Derek Shelton added.
If there was one clear positive to take from Keller’s line, it was that he didn’t walk a batter, a feat that he accomplished just once -- on April 25 against the Tigers -- over his first 12 major league starts.
A lot of that had to deal with his fastball command, which had less unwanted cut and was on the edge of the zone more often than before. And even though most of the Phillies’ hits came on pitches that caught too much plate, at least they had to earn their base rather than get free passes.
“One of the things we've talked to him about in his development in Indy and we even talked about pregame was him commanding the ball on the plate. He commanded the ball on the plate,” Shelton said. “He left some balls over the middle that got hit, but he was on the plate, so that's definitely a positive sign."
Unlike his previous few starts in his first stint in the majors where he started operating only out of the stretch, Keller was in the windup when applicable.
It was an example of trying not to overthink things, which was one of the main points the Pirates tried to instill while on his assignment. That, and, as Indianapolis pitching coach Joel Hanrahan said, remind him that “baseball is fun.”
“When I got sent down, it was, ‘Let’s simplify things, get back to what I used to do,’ ” Keller said. “Really just going out there, feeling athletic, getting some good tempo and some good rhythm.’ ”
The Pirates felt the same way. With Steven Brault set to return from the injured list this week and recently acquired righty Bryse Wilson to make his first start with the team Monday, the Pirates have some starter depth at the moment. Keller’s promotion wasn’t out of necessity.
“We’re excited to watch him pitch today,” Ben Cherington said on 93.7 The Fan Sunday afternoon. “He’s had a great mindset. We know he’s got good stuff. Look for him to go out there, be confident in his stuff, execute and attack hitters. When that happens, he usually has good results.”
He did a better job executing over his final three innings, allowing just one run compared to three over the first two, and flashing some better stuff to go with it.
“I think I was honestly a little amped up,” Keller said. “Being the first one back, after the second inning I kind of settled in a little bit and got the breaking balls down. After that, the results turned in my favor a little bit there after the second inning, once I started putting my slider in the dirt and getting my curveball down a little bit more.”
Depending on how the Pirates want to manage workloads down the stretch, Keller’s season could be divided evenly with 12 starts before being demoted and up to 12 after being recalled. The results weren’t there in the first back, but the hope is there was something to carry into the next outing.
MORE FROM THE GAME
• Well, Keller's start looked better when compared to how the rest of the Pirates pitchers faired.
Cody Ponce was brought in to eat innings, but could only go two frames after throwing 64 pitches and allowing four runs. Luis Oviedo followed by walking four and giving up a hit without recording an out. He was charged with five earned runs after Nick Mears let all the runners he inherited score.
It's been a rough turn for the 22-year-old Oviedo, who was tagged for eight runs in his last outing. He now has an 11.90 ERA (26 earned runs over 19 2/3 innings) this season.
"There's things in his delivery, there's things in his arm action that we're continuing to work on," Shelton said. "We knew when you're a guy that's 22 years old, there's gonna be development opportunities. We have to continue to work. I think we saw a couple 97s today that came out really hot, and there's inconsistency there. We have to keep working with him to try to get better."
There's a case to be made that the Pirates' most effective pitcher was John Nogowski, who pitched the ninth inning for the second time in four days. Not a great way to close a series.
• The Pirates still do not have a sweep this season. That's all.
• Hoy Park got his first big league start at shortstop and first major league hit Sunday, roping a double in a 1-for-4 performance.
Not much to report besides that and a Michael Pérez garbage time homer.
• The Pirates are breaking in a new starter Monday when Wilson, who was acquired from the Braves in the Richard Rodríguez trade Friday, takes the bump against the Brewers.
"I couldn’t be more excited," Wilson said. "Just a great group of eyes, and I’ve been welcomed with open arms -- not only the team, the staff but the fans as well. I couldn’t be more excited about going forward and doing what I can to improve and continue to get better and help this team get to the goal that we’re all after."
"I'm just ready to watch him pitch," Shelton said. "When you acquire a guy and you watch him on video or watch him on the opposing side. Just excited to give him the ball as a Pirate."
I'll have more on Wilson in the upcoming prospect breakdown Mound Visits soon. Keep an eye out.
THE ESSENTIALS
THE LINEUPS
Shelton's card:
1. Ben Gamel, LF
2. Wilmer Difo, 2B
3. Bryan Reynolds, CF
4. Gregory Polanco, RF
5. John Nogowski, 1B
6. Rodolfo Castro, 3B
7. Hoy Park, SS
8. Michael Pérez, C
9. Mitch Keller, RHP
And for Joe Girardi's Phillies:
1. Jean Segura, 2B
2. Travis Jankowski, CF
3. Bryce Harper, RF
4. J.T. Realmuto, C
5. Brad Miller, 1B
6. Alec Bohm, 3B
7. Didi Gregorious, SS
8. Odubel Herrera, LF
9. Kyle Gibson, RHP
THE SCHEDULE
The Pirates are off to Milwaukee to start a three game set with the Brewers. Wilson (2-3, 4.83) will make his Pirates debut against Eric Lauer (3-4, 3.78). First pitch is at 8:10 p.m. Eastern time. DK will have you covered.
IN THE SYSTEM
THE CONTENT
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