Mitch Keller hit hard as Pirates struggle against Blue Jays

Colin Beazley, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Aug 19, 2025

Published in Baseball

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

PITTSBURGH — A short start from Mitch Keller put the Pirates in a hole they couldn’t dig out of in a 7-3 loss to the Blue Jays on Tuesday night at PNC Park. The Pirates have lost eight of their last 10 games.

Keller allowed five runs on seven hits and three walks in 3 1/3 innings. The Pirates trailed 3-0 after five batters and 5-0 after two innings.

Keller hit leadoff man George Springer, then walked the next two batters, throwing two strikes in his first 12 pitches. Catcher Alejandro Kirk hit a liner off the right-field wall — a baserunning blunder made it an RBI single, with Kirk tagged out as the second runner at second base — before left fielder Nathan Lukes added a two-RBI single.

Springer put Toronto up five with a two-run homer in the second.

The opposing pitcher, 41-year-old Max Scherzer, looked like his vintage self against the Pirates. He allowed one run on four hits and three walks in six innings, striking out four. He allowed two of those hits in the sixth inning, then punched out center fielder Jack Suwinski to end it.

Right-hander Yohan Ramirez pitched three excellent innings in relief of Keller, retiring all nine batters he faced with three strikeouts. Right-hander Colin Holderman came in for Ramirez and quickly allowed a two-run homer to Kirk.

The Pirates added two runs late, well after the game was decided. In the seventh, catcher Joey Bart singled, advanced to third on a double from shortstop Jared Triolo, then scored on left fielder Ronny Simon’s sacrifice fly. In the eighth, second baseman Nick Gonzales singled, advanced to second on an error, then scored on Suwinski’s single.

It was over when ...

... Keller’s rocky first inning concluded. It could have been worse, as Triolo booted what looked to be an inning-ending double play. Even after Keller retired the last two batters, the Pirates never seemed likely to win.

On the mound

Keller threw 85 pitches to get 10 outs. He had four strikeouts.

Similarly to last year, Keller is having an August to forget. He’s allowed seven or more hits and five or more runs in three of his four starts this month. He has an 8.64 ERA in his last five starts, dating back to his pre-trade deadline outing in San Francisco.

At the plate

Bart went 2 for 3 with two singles and a run. He also made a smart defensive play, letting a popped up bunt drop, then throwing to third for a rare 2-5-4 double play.

Gonzales and right fielder Bryan Reynolds also had two-hit days. The Pirates were 2 for 11 with runners in scoring position.

Most valuable player

Kirk went 2 for 4 with a homer, a single that should have been a double, and three RBIs.

Up next

The Pirates and Blue Jays play the decider of their three-game series at 12:35 p.m. Wednesday. Right-hander Chris Bassitt (11-6, 4.22) will pitch for Toronto, while Pirates manager Don Kelly announced pregame that Johan Oviedo (0-0, 18.00) will make his second start of the season.