Mitch Keller, the right-handed starting pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates, set a new record on July 2.
In the 5-0 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals at PNC Park on July 2, Keller struck out seven batters in seven scoreless innings on 97 pitches, giving up five hits, one hit-by-pitch, and no runs.
His second strikeout of the day gave him his 384th strikeout at PNC Park, surpassing the previous record of 383 set by Paul Maholm. Following this performance, teams are reportedly interested in the Pirates’ pitcher ahead of the trade deadline on July 31.
2 Teams That Could Use Mitch Keller
Keller may not need to be traded by the Pirates, but they lack young, impact position players and have a lot of young pitching. Trading Keller for an intriguing bat or bats and redistributing his contract to a mid-range free agent could be a potential move.
According to MLB Trade Rumors, nearly every pitching-hungry team on the market will be interested in Keller. His name has already surfaced in connection with the Chicago Cubs.
Jim Bowden of The Athletic reports that the New York Mets are also a possible destination for the Pirates’ starting pitcher, along with the Cubs.
The Pirates need help, and the Cubs have a strong farm system. While Keller has a respectable arm, it’s hard to say if he’s exactly what the Cubs need.
The former All-Star, who has pitched in 17 games this season and struck out 77 batters in 99.1 innings, would still be a solid addition.
Although Keller holds a 3.90 ERA and 3.33 FIP, his strikeout stats are not as impressive as they were in previous seasons, particularly in 2023, when he was named an All-Star and struck out 210 batters in 194.1 innings.
On the other hand, as the Mets attempt to contend for the National League East Division title, their front office will be seeking trade opportunities across Major League Baseball due to the severe injuries to their bullpen and starting rotation.
Mets reportedly interested in Pirates right-hander Mitch Keller https://t.co/mLGmIMtJCU pic.twitter.com/Vy1X5NIFTz
— SNY (@SNYtv) July 5, 2025
Right-handed pitcher Griffin Canning was placed on the 60-day injured list on June 27 due to a ruptured left Achilles. Kodai Senga was placed on the 15-day injured list on June 13 due to a strained right hamstring.
Paul Blackburn was placed on the 15-day injured list on June 30 due to a right shoulder impingement. Left-handed pitcher Sean Manaea has not pitched this season due to a right oblique strain sustained during spring training. These are among the Mets’ starting pitchers currently on the injured list.