Don Kelly Praises Mitch Keller's 'Unbelievable' Start In Pirates Win originally appeared on SportsNet Pittsburgh. Add SportsNet Pittsburgh as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Mitch Keller gave the Pittsburgh Pirates exactly what they needed on Sunday.A taxed bullpen worked nine innings in Saturday's 13-inning loss to the Tampa Bay Rays. The Pirates went 10 innings against the Washington Nationals two days early, but Keller shouldered the workload on Sunday.Keller only needed 89 pitches to pitch a season-high seven frames in a 6-3 win over Tampa Bay.

Pirates manager Don Kelly praised his veteran for providing a lengthy outing."It was huge," Kelly said in his post-game press conference. "Honestly, probably the biggest start of the year with where our bullpen was at. For him to be as strong as he was and get the W for the team, it was unbelievable."Don Kelly spoke following the series win 🎙️On Mitch's outing: "Probably the biggest start of the year because of where our bullpen is at... it was unbelievable." 👏 pic.twitter.com/ZeFHNHsj8V— SportsNet Pittsburgh (@SNPittsburgh) April 19, 2026Kelly didn't directly talk to Keller about going deep into Sunday's start, but the skipper trusted that the 30-year-old understood the situation."I think he knew going in that we needed it," Kelly said.

"Not something that you need to necessarily talk about. For him to go out and be able to go seven strong like that was really important. He did a great job."Keller went six innings in each of his first three starts, but he completed seven frames just three times last season.

The right-hander has still provided Pittsburgh's rotation with a bedrock who is now attempting to make at least 30 starts in his fourth consecutive season.Although he was one of six Pirates relievers to pitch Saturday, Isaac Mattson worked a scoreless eighth in just eight pitches on Sunday. Promoted to give Pittsburgh a fresh arm, Wilber Dotel finished the game in his MLB debut.The bullpen has another day to rest before the Pirates kick off a three-game road series against the Texas Rangers on Tuesday.More MLB: Is NL Central Now Toughest Division In Baseball?