Sports
Mitch Keller, Pirates chase series win over playoff-bound Brewers
Sep 20, 2024; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Mitch Keller (23) pitches against the Cincinnati Reds in the first inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images After tying a career high by allowing eight runs in his latest start, Pittsburgh right-hander Mitch Keller will try and bounce back when the Pirates host the National League Central champion Milwaukee Brewers in their final home game of the season on Thursday.
Keller (11-11, 4.21 ERA) last picked up a win on Aug. 20 at Texas, when he tossed seven-plus scoreless innings. Since that time, he has been credited with the loss in four of his five starts, including an 8-3 setback at Cincinnati on Friday. He compiled a 6.93 ERA in that span.
The 28-year-old lasted just 3 1/3 innings against the Reds. He allowed eight runs on seven hits, including home runs by Tyler Stephenson and Jonathan India. He also walked a season-high five batters while striking out a season-low one.
“Just not in the zone,” Keller said. “Just throwing balls and falling behind in the count. They were ready to hit. They were pretty aggressive, too.”
Keller’s four-seam fastball averaged lacked its usual velocity, but he put more blame for his problems on poor pitch location and execution.
Pittsburgh manager Derek Shelton, however, said the grind of making 30 starts could be catching up to the 2023 All-Star.
“At this point of the season, that can definitely be a factor,” Shelton said.
Keller is just 1-4 with a 5.44 ERA in eight career starts against the Brewers, but the win came earlier this season. On May 13 in Milwaukee, he tossed six shutout innings while striking out seven in a 8-6 victory. Keller also got a no-decision vs. the Brewers on April 25 after throwing five innings of four-run ball.
Milwaukee (90-68) will counter with right-hander Aaron Civale (7-9, 4.53), who comes in off a 5-0 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday. Civale is 1-2 with a 3.94 ERA in five career starts against Pittsburgh (74-84), including an 0-1 record with a 1.59 ERA in two starts this year.
Civale has pitched well in PNC Park, compiling a 1-0 record and 1.86 ERA in three career starts.
The Thursday contest will decide the three-game series. Milwaukee won the opener 7-2 on Tuesday. The Pirates, behind a strong pitching performance from Luis L. Ortiz, edged the Brewers 2-1 on Wednesday.
Ortiz, who spent much of the season in the bullpen, improved to 7-6 by allowing one run, a long second-inning homer by Jake Bauers, on four hits over seven innings. He walked one and struck out five while lowering his ERA to 3.32.
“It’s the culmination of a really good year where he got better,” Shelton said. “We challenge people to get better. We challenge ourselves to get better, and he did that throughout the year, and he’s really put himself in a good spot.”
Despite picking up the loss, Milwaukee starter Freddy Peralta had a milestone night.
Peralta (11-9), who gave up two runs on two hits over 5 1/3 innings, struck out seven. His final whiff, against Bryan Reynolds to open the sixth inning, lifted him to the 200-strikeout mark for the second straight season. Peralta, who will be Milwaukee’s starter in Game 1 of the National League playoffs next week, was then pulled after throwing 96 pitches, 60 for strikes.
“It’s great honor for him,” Milwaukee manager Pat Murphy said of Peralta joining Teddy Higuera, Corbin Burnes and Yovani Gallardo as Brewers pitchers with multiple seasons of 200-plus strikeouts. “It’s a great milestone for any starting pitcher.”
With the loss and the Philadelphia Phillies’ win over the Chicago Cubs, the Brewers are now assured of being the No. 3 seed in the NL playoffs.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Phillies' 4-run eighth fuels rally past Athletics
May 6, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies right fielder Adolis García (53) celebrates his home run with second baseman Edmundo Sosa (33) against the Athletics during the sixth inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images Edmundo Sosa delivered a go-ahead two-run single in the eighth inning as the Philadelphia Phillies rallied to notch a 6-3 victory over the visiting Athletics on Wednesday.
Brandon Marsh had three hits and an RBI for Philadelphia, which improved to 8-1 under interim manager Don Mattingly. Adolis Garcia homered for the Phillies while J.T. Realmuto, Garcia and Sosa each had two hits.
A’s left-hander Jeffrey Springs, who exited his last outing with hip soreness, gave up two runs and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings with four strikeouts and no walks in a crisp 75-pitch performance. Nick Kurtz finished with two hits and an RBI as he reached base for the 30th straight game.
In his third start since returning from a blood clot in his shoulder, Philadelphia starter Zack Wheeler allowed three runs and five hits in 6 1/3 innings.
The Phillies trailed 3-2 in the eighth inning when Kyle Schwarber drew a leadoff walk against Jack Perkins (2-1). Bryce Harper reached on an error by second baseman Jeff McNeil that spoiled a potential double play, then Garcia singled to load the bases.
Sosa grounded his two-run single up the middle to give Philadelphia the lead. The Athletics brought in Hogan Harris for the platoon advantage against Brandon Marsh, but Marsh stroked an RBI single before Justin Crawford’s RBI groundout made it 6-3 as the Phillies’ four-run frame featured two unearned runs.
The A’s loaded the bases against Brad Keller with two outs in the ninth, but the veteran right-hander got Jacob Wilson on a grounder back to the mound to end it. Orion Kerkering (1-0) recorded the final out of the eighth.
Kurtz’s RBI single in the fifth made it 2-0, but Philadelphia got a run back in the bottom half as Marsh tripled and scored on a grounder by Felix Reyes. Tyler Soderstrom led off the sixth with a homer against Wheeler to make it 3-1.
The Phillies answered again, this time with Garcia’s solo homer in their half of the sixth.
Perkins pitched the seventh for the A’s, striking out a pair, before the right-hander ran into trouble in the eighth.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Pete Alonso helps power Orioles past Marlins
May 6, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman (35) congratulates Pete Alonso (25) on his three-run home run in the first inning against the Miami Marlins at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images Pete Alonso hammered a three-run home run and Adley Rutschman smacked two run-scoring doubles as the Baltimore Orioles beat the host Miami Marlins 7-4 on Wednesday night.
It’s the second victory in a row following a five-game skid for the Orioles, who will go for a series sweep on Thursday.
Orioles starter Brandon Young (3-1) worked six innings, allowing three runs on four hits and three walks with five strikeouts. Rico Garcia pitched the ninth for his second save as four pitchers combined on a six-hitter.
Baltimore won despite being limited to seven hits, though the Orioles drew seven walks. Taylor Ward picked up three of the walks and scored three runs.
Jakob Marsee drove in two runs, but the Marlins lost their fourth game in a row and for the fifth time in six games.
Marlins starter Eury Perez (2-4) lasted five-plus innings and was charged with a season-high five earned runs on four hits and five walks with six strikeouts.
Dax Fulton entered to pitch for Miami in the sixth inning in his major league debut, striking out Dylan Beavers and Coby Mayo as the first batters he faced with two runners on base.
Both teams scored in the first inning.
Alonso’s seventh homer of the season was a three-run blast that came with one out after Ward walked and Rutschman was hit by a pitch.
The first two Marlins were retired before two runners reached base and Marsee knocked them in with a double on an 0-2 splitter. Owen Caissie’s single drove in Marsee.
The Orioles went back ahead in the fourth on Beavers’ two-out double. Rutschman doubled in Ward in the fifth with two outs.
Rutschman’s seventh-inning double stretched the lead to 6-3.
The Marlins got a run in the seventh, with pinch hitter Otto Lopez doubling and scoring on Xavier Edwards’ groundout.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Royals' Cole Ragans leave game with triceps, elbow soreness
Apr 26, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Royals pitcher Cole Ragans (55) pitches during the first inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images Kansas City starting pitcher Cole Ragans left the Royals’ Wednesday game against the Cleveland Guardians after the third inning due to left triceps and elbow soreness, the team announced.
Ragans gave up no runs and a hit while striking out four and walking two. He threw 58 pitches. He is 1-4 with a 4.84 ERA in eight starts this season, with 45 strikeouts and 23 walks in 35 1/3 innings.
An All-Star in 2024, Ragans, 28, was drafted in the first round in 2016 by the Texas Rangers. He was traded to Kansas City in 2023 in a deal that sent closer Aroldis Champman to Texas.
Ragans is 22-24 overall in his career with a 3.76 ERA in 91 appearances (74 starts).
–Field Level Media
Phillies' 4-run eighth fuels rally past Athletics
Pete Alonso helps power Orioles past Marlins
