Mitch Keller

ActiveIL

Pittsburgh Pirates · SP

Age 306' 3" · 213 lbsThrows Right

#657 Current#343 Preseason

FBaseball Overview

Coming off a disappointing 2025 season marked by injury struggles and a 6-15 record, Keller enters 2026 with significantly reduced innings (94.1 IP) and elevated ERA (4.87), signaling durability concerns that make him a risky fantasy investment. His strikeout rate remains serviceable with 73 K across limited action, but the uptick in WHIP to 1.30 and continued ERA issues suggest he's no longer the reliable mid-rotation arm that earned his 2023 All-Star selection. Managers looking to draft Keller should view him as a back-end starter or streaming option rather than a core fantasy asset, as the Pirates' struggles and his injury history create a low floor with modest upside in 2026. His win total will likely remain modest given Pittsburgh's weak supporting cast, making strikeouts his most valuable category for fantasy purposes.

News Updates

Mitch Keller allows three homers in Pirates loss
Mitch Keller (6-6) took the loss Friday, giving up five runs on eight hits including three home runs over six innings as Pittsburgh fell 9-5 to Washington. The defensive struggles behind him and long balls limited his effectiveness.
Jul 4, 2026

MLB Pitching

Year	Team	G	GS	W	L	ERA	WHIP	K	IP	BB
2019	Pittsburgh Pirates	11	11	1	5	7.13	1.83	65	48.0	16
2020	Pittsburgh Pirates	5	5	1	1	2.91	1.25	16	21.2	18
2021	Pittsburgh Pirates	23	23	5	11	6.17	1.79	92	100.2	49
2022	Pittsburgh Pirates	31	29	5	12	3.91	1.40	138	159.0	60
2023	Pittsburgh Pirates	32	32	13	9	4.21	1.25	210	194.1	55
2024	Pittsburgh Pirates	31	31	11	12	4.25	1.30	166	178.0	50
2025	Pittsburgh Pirates	32	32	6	15	4.19	1.26	150	176.1	51
2026	Pittsburgh Pirates	22	22	6	8	5.29	1.37	89	115.2	42
Career	Totals	187	185	48	73	4.60	1.38	926	993.2	341

Source: MLB Stats API · Multi-team seasons show combined totals — click to expand

Minor League Pitching

Year	Team	G	GS	W	L	ERA	WHIP	K	IP	BB
2014	GCL Pirates	9	8	0	0	1.98	1.17	29	27.1	13
2015	Bristol Pirates	6	6	0	3	5.49	2.08	25	19.2	16
2016	2 teams▼	24	24	9	5	2.35	0.92	138	130.1	19
2017	3 teams▼	23	23	8	5	3.03	1.00	116	116	32
2018	3 teams▼	25	25	12	4	3.48	1.30	135	142.1	55
2019	Indianapolis Indians	19	19	7	5	3.56	1.24	123	103.2	35
2021	Indianapolis Indians	8	6	1	1	3.21	1.43	39	28.0	13
Career	Totals	114	111	37	23	3.13	1.17	605	567.1	183

Source: MLB Stats API · Multi-team seasons show combined totals — click to expand

Last Week / Last Month

Current season · MLB only

7 games

G	GS	IP	W-L	SV	ERA	WHIP	K	BB
7	7	33.1	1-4	0	6.21	1.50	24	11

30 games

G	GS	IP	W-L	SV	ERA	WHIP	K	BB
22	22	115.2	6-8	0	5.29	1.37	89	42

Game Log2026 MLB

Loading game log…

Advanced Stats2026 season · via Baseball Savant

Click for year to year changes

FB Velo93.0 mph

Avg Spin2396 rpm

Whiff %20.5%

K %17.7%

BB %8.3%

Hard Hit %42.4%

Barrel %7.4%

xERA5.51

xBA Against0.288

xSLG Against0.455

BA Against0.259

SLG Against0.426

GB%37.9%

FB%25.8%

What These Stats Mean

FB Velo — Average fastball velocity. Harder throwers generate more swings and misses, setting up every other pitch in their arsenal. Velocity is the foundation of strikeout upside.

Avg Spin — Average spin rate across all pitches. Higher spin creates more movement and makes pitches harder to square up — elite spinners run better strikeout and batting average against numbers.

Whiff % — Swings-and-misses per swing. The most direct measure of a pitcher's ability to miss bats and the best leading indicator of strikeout rate.

K % — Strikeout rate per batter faced. The core fantasy pitching stat — high K% means reliable strikeout totals that hold up even in shorter starts.

BB % — Walk rate per batter faced. The primary control metric. High BB% tanks ERA and WHIP and keeps baserunners on constantly. Elite starters typically run below 7%.

Hard Hit % — Percentage of batted balls hit 95 mph or harder against. Low hard-hit% means weak contact, protecting both ERA and the defense behind the pitcher.

Barrel % — Percentage of batted balls barreled against. The most direct home run predictor — low barrel% pitchers rarely give up long balls.

xERA — Expected ERA based on contact quality allowed, removing the effect of sequencing, luck, and defense. Better predictor of future ERA than ERA itself.

xBA Against — Expected batting average opponents should hit based on contact quality. A gap between xBA and actual BA indicates unsustainable luck in either direction.

xSLG Against — Expected slugging allowed based on contact quality. High xSLG against predicts future extra-base damage; low xSLG means the pitcher is genuinely suppressing power.

BA Against — Actual batting average opponents are hitting — a key WHIP component. Check xBA to see if the number is sustainable.

SLG Against — Actual slugging allowed. Captures hits, doubles, triples, and home runs — lower means the pitcher is limiting the power damage he gives up.

GB% — Ground ball rate. High GB% pitchers generate double plays, limit home runs, and keep the ball in the park — great for protecting ERA and WHIP ratios.

FB% — Fly ball rate. High FB% pitchers give up more air contact — dangerous when combined with high exit velocity, less so when contact is soft.

Loading player data...

Year

Team

ERA

WHIP

2019

Pittsburgh Pirates

7.13

1.83

48.0

2020

Pittsburgh Pirates

2.91

1.25

21.2

2021

Pittsburgh Pirates

6.17

1.79

100.2

2022

Pittsburgh Pirates

3.91

1.40

138

159.0

2023

Pittsburgh Pirates

4.21

1.25

210

194.1

2024

Pittsburgh Pirates

4.25

1.30

166

178.0

2025

Pittsburgh Pirates

4.19

1.26

150

176.1

2026

Pittsburgh Pirates

5.29

1.37

115.2

Career

Totals

187

185

4.60

1.38

926

993.2

341

Year

Team

ERA

WHIP

2014

GCL Pirates

1.98

1.17

27.1

2015

Bristol Pirates

5.49

2.08

19.2

2016

2 teams▼

2.35

0.92

138

130.1

2017

3 teams▼

3.03

1.00

116

2018

3 teams▼

3.48

1.30

135

142.1

2019

Indianapolis Indians

3.56

1.24

123

103.2

2021

Indianapolis Indians

3.21

1.43

28.0

Career

Totals

114

111

3.13

1.17

605

567.1

183

W-L

ERA

WHIP

33.1

1-4

6.21

1.50

W-L

ERA

WHIP

115.2

6-8

5.29

1.37