Gameday 93: Mitch Keller looks to help Pirates end losing streak
Mitch Keller vs Seth Lugo
The good news, the Pittsburgh Pirates scored for the first time since last Thursday.
The bad news, they dropped their fourth straight game, this time to the Kansas City Royals.
Tommy Pham hit a two-run home run in the third inning, but Andrew Heaney and Chase Shugart allowed eight total runs. Alexander Canario drove in the other run on the night for the Pirates, making it a 9-3 ball game.
Now, the Pirates will send Mitch Keller to the mound, who tossed seven shutout innings last time around and has wins in each of his last two starts.
They will face Seth Lugo, also a winner in each of his last two starts. First pitch is scheduled for 7:40 pm ET.
Bucs on Deck: Pittsburgh Pirates Top 30 Midseason Update
We are past the halfway mark of the 2025 minor league season, and it seems like a perfect time for an update on our Top Prospect list, which has been expanded to 30 players.
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Pirates Lineup
1B - Spencer Horwitz
LF - Tommy Pham
DH - Bryan Reynolds
2B - Nick Gonzales
CF - Oneil Cruz
3B - Ke’Bryan Hayes
RF - Jack Suwinski
C - Henry Davis
SS - Isiah Kiner-Falefa
Royals Lineup
DH - Jonathan India
SS - Bobby Witt Jr.
1B - Vinnie Pasquantino
3B - Maikel Garcia
C - Salvador Perez
RF - Jac Caglianone
2B - Nick Loftin
LF - John Rave
CF - Kyle Isbel
Pitching Matchup
PIT - Mitch Keller (3-10, 3.64 ERA, 106.1 IP, 84 K)
KC - Seth Lugo (6-5, 2.65 ERA, 95 IP, 83 K)
Yesterday’s Feature
10 Observations: Omar Alfonzo first week in Altoona, Termarr upside, Zander Mueth
Murphy 7/1: I feel like Levi Sterling could use the Carlson Reed treatment, and split the fastball into two, if it hasn’t been done already. Lots of the metrics have come back ‘meh’ and add in the fact he’s throwing low-90s, it’s gotten beat up quite a bit in the FCL.
Today’s Feature
Minor league top performers: Edward Florentino takes home Player of the Week honors
Another week in the books in the minors, and all four minor league affiliates are at the top, or are de facto at the top of their respective divisions (Bradenton is second, but really first since Lakeland already locked up a playoff spot).
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I'm guessing the hold up on a lineup is to make a move for Jack Suwinski, who is back with the team
Reynolds takes two strikes, then chases one in the dirt.
This team is like a clinic on how not to hit. Does anybody still think they just need a bat or two? They need to clear out the entire roster of position players.