5-31-23 – By Craig W. Toth – @BucsBasement on Twitter
Keller threw 101 pitches over 6 innings of work-with 74 of them going for strikes. He’s putting the ball exactly where he wants it, while using a solid 4 pitch mix; with a couple other off speed pitches-a curve and changeup-to keep batters off balance.
On the day he generated 35 CS (Called Strikes) + Whiffs, on his way to 8 Ks and 1 free pass. Sure the stat line will show 10 hits and 4 earned runs; yet, how many of those came on legitimate hard contact? Maybe 3 or 4. The rest were infield, bloop and slow rolling singles.
Still, this wasn’t even the main storyline as the Pirates bats actually produced more than enough offense to make up for a somewhat less than clean outing from Keller; knocking in 9 runs on 14 hits.
And, if we are being honest the overwhelming majority of comments on my timeline were about DFA’ing Chris Owings ; which are totally justified, but kind of confusing in taking this opportunity-on a day the Pirates won-to address an issue with a player that has now accumulated 29 at bats during the month of May. That’s 29 at bats across the 20 games he has been on the active roster.
Sure bring up someone to replace him on the bench-most likely Mark Mathias, even though he can’t play shortstop; or even Jared Triolo, who seems to be the only Minor Leaguer they trust at position on a regular basis. However, be prepared for the same number of at bats to go to them. Because if you think it should be Nick Gonzales, Liover Peguero or another top prospect; who are the going to take at bats away from? Tucupita Marcano? Ji-hwan Bae? Rodolfo Castro?
Sorry for the tangent.
More importantly than anything-at least for today-is the fact that your Pittsburgh Pirates won 9-4; and actually took a series in the month of May.
News & Notes
- Keller now has 93 strikeouts on the season, which makes him the only Pirates pitcher in history to have more than 90 strikeouts before June 1st. He also now has 8 Ks or more in 7 straight games; something no other pitcher has accomplished in the modern era. Oh, and his 7 wins are more than anyone on the team during 2022.
- Hayes really needed a game like that; going 2 for 5, including a 2-run triple in the top of the 3rd.
- McCutchen and Joe each went 3 for 4, while Reynolds totaled 3 RBI.
- The bullpen put together another solid performance; allowing just 2 hits and zero walks, while striking out 3 more Giants hitters over the final 3 innings.
- The Pirates did announce some Minor League moves as Travis Swaggerty returned to the Indianapolis Roster and Blake Cederlind was reinstated off the 7-day IL; only to be released after posting a 13.50 ERA and 2.000 WHIP in 6 innings with Bradenton.
Pittsburgh gets what has become a regular off day tomorrow-Thursday-before returning to PNC for a 9-game home-stand; which begins on Friday night against the St. Louis Cardinals.
The scheduled pitching matchup is Roansy Contreras (3-4/4.33 ERA/1.38 WHIP) versus Jack Flaherty (3-4/4.81/1.53 WHIP) for the Redbirds.
Steel City Pirates 