The Pirates continue to frustrate their fanbase as they get the doors blown off of them tonight 9-5 in the nation’s capital. Don’t let the garbage time runs in the 9th fool you, the game was never close from the start. The Nationals offense bullied Mitch Keller repeatedly over 6 innings of work. The offense also couldn’t muster any runs across the plate against the league’s worst bullpen, and the Bucs find themselves on the wrong side of .500 yet again. Watch Dinardo and Doug (hopefully Doug gives us a good Mitch rant) break the game down further here on the NS9 Postgame Show powered by Primanti Bros:

Mitch Keller is Making 17 Million USD

I have been an ardent defender of Mitch Keller for years, as he has been an invaluable part of the rotation, and I believed he had earned his contract extension. However, this entire season has been inexcusable from the highest-paid pitcher in franchise history. After this season he is still owed a combined 39 million over the course of the 2027 and 2028 seasons. He cannot be a 5 ERA pitcher who can maybe go 6 innings like he did tonight; he has to be better. He is being paid like a #3 pitcher, which is similar to the stints of Rich Hill and Martin Perez when they were in Pittsburgh (making a combined salary less than Keller’s). Keller was not good tonight even if he was technically efficient. He gave up 8 hits and 3 homers and only struck out a single batter over the course of 6 innings. There is a decent case to make that Carmen Mlodzinski would serve the rotation better than the average to terrible starts Mitch serves up every 5 days.

The Internal Bullpen Options Aren’t Working

Ben Cherington is in a uniquely precarious position where he is somewhat stuck with the bullpen options he has until mid-July while his job hinges on the team’s success this year. The internal options from the IL and AAA continue to not answer this team’s prayers in terms of bullpen relief. The Pirates stormed back in the 9th tonight to make the game seem much closer than it was, but it was too late as Isaac Mattson ceded 4 runs of his own. Mattson was supposed to come back and be a reliable RHP out of the bullpen, just like Bidois, Sanders, Dotel, and so on. Regardless of which internal option is given a chance to shine, they are all blowing up games and costing the Pirates the chance to win. Mattson tonight did nothing particularly well, giving up 2 homers and failing to get many strikeouts or whiffs. If this season is to be saved, Ben Cherington needs to jump into the trade market now. The Pirates cannot afford to wait till after the All-Star Break to fix this trash fire.

Time to Worry About O’Hearn?

Ryan O’Hearn went 0-5, and the man we saw in April and May seems to have disappeared over the course of the summer months. He has gone through large stretches of not being able to reach base and has been an anchor in the heart of the lineup. His OPS since June 1st is 749; however, those are heavily inflated from 3 games where he had offensive explosions. I have thoroughly enjoyed having him on the team, and he has so far been well worth the money spent. That being said, he should probably be moved down in the order until he is able to sort this offensive rut out. His OPS on the season is now below . 800, and his defence right isn’t good enough to be just an average hitter. This team needs Ryan O’Hearn to be better, and I do have belief that he will find his early season self. But this past month coming off of his injury has not been pretty.