On Saturday, Mitch Keller will take to the mound for the regular season for the first time in 2026. After Paul Skenes the takes the ball on Opening Day in New York City against the Mets, Keller will follow up in the second of the three-game, four-day series.
This year will kick off Keller’s eighth season in the big leagues, every one of them with the Pirates.
Since suffering a harsh rookie season and an equally challenging 2021 year in the first season out of Covid, Keller has developed into a much stronger arm in Pittsburgh.
Ever since, the right-hander has provided the Pirates with a reliably healthy arm who is always ready to go every fifth day. What usually takes a hit during the course of the season, though, is his effectiveness.
Keller is one of the most consistent pitchers in the sport. Over the last four seasons, the former second-round pick has started 124 games and tossed over 700 innings to the tune of a 4.15 ERA.
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