The Pittsburgh Pirates are facing off against the Atlanta Braves in the finale of a three-game weekday set at PNC Park
The Pirates are handing the ball off to Mitch Keller to close out the series. Keller pitched six innings in his last start against the Washington Nationals on July 3, giving up five earned runs and a 9-5 defeat in the nation’s capital. Keller has gone six innings in each of his last three starts, which is a good sign for his longevity in the game. It’s likely his final start of the first half, so the coaching staff might ask him to go a little further in this game.
The Braves are going with Bryce Elder, who was an All-Star in 2023 but has not lived up to the hype since then. This year has been his best since that campaign, but not by much. Elder has a 4.01 ERA in his 17 starts so far this season. In his last appearance on June 27, he gave up five earned runs in just four innings during a 5-0 loss to the San Francisco Giants on the road. After getting skipped in the rotation last time around, the Braves hope Elder’s time off can get him back on track against the Pirates.
Location: PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA
Broadcast: KDKA AM/FM, Sportsnet Pittsburgh
Pitching Matchup: Bryce Elder (5-6, 4.01 ERA) vs. Mitch Keller (6-6, 5.02 ERA)
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