After All-Star exclusion, Keller draws support from Shelton, teammates

As Bryan Reynolds and Paul Skenes prepare to represent their organization during MLB All-Star festivities in Arlington, Texas next week, there seems to be a common level of disappointment amongst those in the Pirates' clubhouse regarding one notable name that was left off the initial National League roster, which was revealed Sunday. 

Derek Shelton, while praising the selections of Skenes and Reynolds, openly shared his own disappointment in the fact that Mitch Keller wasn't recognized for his efforts after putting together an impressive resume and serving as the workhorse for a talented starting rotation during the first half of the season.

"This is a guy that’s the leader of our rotation," Shelton said Sunday. "If you look at his numbers this year going back to what they were last year, they’re very comparable, so I’m disappointed in that respect."

Shelton isn't wrong. Keller's first-half numbers -- with one start remaining before the break -- are similar to last year when he joined David Bednar in the midsummer classic for the first time in his career. 

At the 2023 All-Star break, Keller was 9-4 with a 3.31 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP through 19 starts. He registered 129 strikeouts and 34 walks in 117 innings and held opposing hitters to a .220 batting average. 

Now, after putting together what Shelton described as an "All-Star performance" in throwing eight innings of two-run ball in Monday afternoon's 8-2 victory over the Mets at PNC Park, Keller is 10-5 with a 3.40 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP in 18 starts. He's totaled 102 strikeouts and walked 27 batters in 111 1/3 innings. Opposing hitters are batting .253 against him. With pitches like this, there's no reason to wonder why: 

Keller is now just the fourth pitcher in franchise history with 10-plus wins, 100-plus strikeouts and 100-plus innings pitched before the All-Star break, joining Gerrit Cole (2015), Bob Veale (1966) and Bob Friend (1960). Keller was one win away from accomplishing that feat a year ago. 

"His identity as a pitcher says All-Star all around," Skenes told me following Monday's game. "I think it's a lot easier to do what he's done when you do everything right, and that's what he does. Falling back to your routine and going out and executing, it all becomes easier when you do that." 

In the eyes of Shelton and others, including the man he shared the spotlight with a year ago in Seattle, the numbers and Keller's consistent ability to produce are factors in him deserving another All-Star selection. 

"I think you see it every fifth or sixth day whenever he takes the mound, it's impressive," Bednar said. "How he's able to command a game, he always keeps us in the game and he's a true leader of that staff. It's really impressive to watch." 

Joey Bart has been behind the plate for seven of Keller's starts this season and emphatically believes in his All-Star worthy resume, despite there being a number of talented pitchers thriving throughout the league, including a few within the Pirates' own rotation. 

"There are a lot of good players and a lot of good pitchers in this clubhouse, but that guy's the rock," Bart told me. "Since I've been here, I've been able to figure that out. We've got some real talented guys, some guys that have a really high ceiling and some bright futures, but Mitch Keller is the heart and soul of that staff. I've been super impressed with the guy. Every time he goes out there, he gives you length and he's ready to take the ball. It's unbelievable the way he competes for us and I've been so impressed. He's a hell of a pitcher, he's had a hell of a season and he's going to have a really good second half." 

Following his superb outing on Monday, Keller told reporters he quickly flushed away his own disappointment in losing out on a chance to join Reynolds and Skenes in representing the Pirates in Texas. But, at the same time, he takes pride in the fact that his manager and so many of his teammates are making their case loud and clear as to why he's deserving of the honor for a second consecutive year. 

"Yeah, yesterday everyone was talking to me about it. It definitely makes you feel a lot better," Keller said. "Just from everyone that you're with all the time, when they recognize that, those words carry a lot of weight, especially when you're here day in and day out with everybody for over half the year. Yeah, it means a lot, for sure."