After All-Star exclusion, Pirates' Mitch Keller focused on strong 2nd-half performance

The trials and tribulations of Pirates pitcher Mitch Keller are now well-known outside of Pittsburgh.

In large part, it was Keller’s dominant start to the 2023 campaign, culminating with his first All-Star selection, that brought his story as a big-leaguer to a more national audience.

As Pirates fans can recall, major questions surrounding Keller’s viability as an MLB starter lingered as recently as 2022, when he was shifted to the bullpen. The previous year, he navigated through a midseason demotion to the minor leagues.

Fast forward to 2024, and Keller has seemed to conquer the inconsistencies that plagued him early in his career.

“Going through that has only made him a better player, a better man, a better teammate — all of the above,” said closer David Bednar, a two-time All-Star. “He understands the whole scope of it. He’s been demoted. He’s been to the bottom. He’s also been to the All-Star Game. He had an unbelievable year last year and an unbelievable start this year.

“His perseverance is really inspiring to see the guy he’s turned into: the anchor of a staff and the guy that all the younger guys can look up to.”

Keller started Monday afternoon against the New York Mets, allowing two runs over eight innings and picking up the win.

On the year, he’s now 10-5 with a 3.40 ERA, leading the Pirates in victories.

Keller has pitched 111 1/3 innings, striking out 102 compared to 27 walks and has a 1.22 WHIP.

However, he was not selected to his second All-Star Game on Sunday.

While Keller’s wins are tied for second most in baseball, the rest of his traditional stats, such as strikeouts and ERA (both 30th), ranked considerably lower among the greater pack of All-Star hopefuls.

Keller will have to be content with supporting teammates Bryan Reynolds and Paul Skenes at the July 16 game, as both were chosen as National League reserves.

Suffice to say, Keller won’t be shedding any tears at his exclusion.

Even before the All-Star reserves were announced, Keller was looking ahead to his start against New York, the remainder of the season and the Pirates’ long-term prospects.

“I hope so, but if not, that’s fine, too,” Keller told TribLive of making the All-Star Game. “It’s not really what I’m looking for, too. It’d be nice, yeah, but I just want to go out there and give us a chance to win every game, be in the playoffs — that’d be more meaningful to me than an All-Star Game. But obviously, it’d be nice.”

As he continues through his sixth MLB season, Keller has demonstrated the lessons learned from struggling often upon breaking into the big leagues. He also has proven he can headline a rotation.

But what Keller has yet to do is put together a full, consistent season from start to finish.

Last year, immediately after the All-Star Game, Keller went on to post ERAs of 6.28 in July, 4.20 in August and 5.28 in September to finish off the season.

Keller managed just four wins after the All-Star break, compared to nine during the first half.

Pirates bullpen coach Justin Meccage was previously the team’s minor-league coordinator and has known Keller since age 18, when he signed with Pittsburgh out of Xavier High School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Meccage was in charge of the bullpen at the time of Keller’s 2022 demotion from starter to reliever and remembered a player who “was shook a little bit but was ready to work and find some things out.”

Now, Meccage sees Keller as capable of applying additional experience gained last season into a strong second half.

“I think the key is the body,” Meccage said. “You don’t know what to do about that until you go through it. It’s a long season, and it’s a hard season, so your body needs to make adaptations as the season goes on and I think last year, he learned a lot in order for him to have success in the second half. That’s the key and the ticket.

“… I think it’s body and mind — the two most important things to why guys have success in the second half and can continue that.”

Keller also identified rest and recuperation as points of emphasis in the second half.

“Just continuing to put the work in every week, not taking anything for granted, really focusing on recovering and resting here getting ready for the second half,” he said. “That’s when it gets tough. You’ve got to just keep going and focus on recovering after every start and making sure your body is ready to go for the next one.”

Manager Derek Shelton has been with Keller through the highs and lows.

From demoting Keller to the minors to informing him of his All-Star selection last year, Shelton has seen the 28-year-old at his best and worst.

Regarding Keller’s ability to stay sharp after the All-Star Game, Shelton needs no convincing.

“Mitch Keller’s an easy guy to trust,” Shelton said.