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Pirates starter's brother calls out disgusting offensive output with simple tweet

ByEmma Lingan|
May 19, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Mitch Keller (23) delivers a pitch against the Cincinnati Reds during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
May 19, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Mitch Keller (23) delivers a pitch against the Cincinnati Reds during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images | Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Far too many of the Pittsburgh Pirates' 33 losses this season have followed a similar pattern: a strong, quality start on the pitcher's mound that ultimately gets wasted due to an utter lack of offensive production and/or a meltdown by the bullpen. Monday's 7-1 loss to the Cincinnati Reds featured both.

Starting pitcher Mitch Keller gave up just one earned run in six innings of work against the Reds. But the Pirates' MLB-worst offense managed to score just one run; their wobbly defense allowed an unearned run in the sixth inning; and their bullpen collapsed, racking up five more earned runs in a blowout loss to a division rival.

Seriously, what's the point of having a strong starting rotation anchored by the likes of Keller and Paul Skenes when it's going to be rendered moot by offense, fielding and relief pitching that are well below average? It's truly maddening.

Mitch Keller's brother calls out Pirates' disgusting offensive output with simple tweet

Danny Demilio of Pittsburgh Baseball Now posted on X after the game that Keller has a 3.17 ERA over his last eight starts, including Monday's. The Pirates are 1-7 in those games and 0-7 over his last seven outings. Again, maddening.

Perhaps no one is more frustrated by these outcomes than Keller's older brother, Jon. A veteran of five minor league seasons before his retirement from professional baseball in 2017, Jon took to social media Monday night to express his disgust with the current state of the Pirates organization by quote tweeting Demilio's original post with three vomiting emojis.

The Pirates are a combined 5-15 in 20 starts between Skenes and Keller this season, despite a 3.13 collective ERA from the two. Their offense (or lack thereof) has scored four runs or fewer in 24 straight contests. If ever there were an emoji to describe how putrid the Pirates' bats have been this season, it would definitely the vomiting one. Well said, Jon.

The Pirates, prior to Tuesday's 1-0 victory, had lost four straight games and six of their previous seven. Their fans deserve better, but so do their starting pitchers (and their protective older brothers).

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