Keller's Rough Start
Mitch Keller struggles as Pirates drop series opener to Braves, giving up six runs
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Mitch Keller had a night to forget in Atlanta. The Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander gave up 6 runs on 7 hits in just 4⅔ innings, sending the Pirates to a 6-3 loss against the Braves in their series opener on Friday, June 5, at Truist Park. Associated Press reported that Pittsburgh falls to 34-30 on the season, while Atlanta improves to 43-21 — the best record in Major League Baseball.
The Pirates grabbed a 3-1 lead in the third inning, but the Braves quickly erased it. Shortstop Mauricio Dubón hit a 405-foot, two-run home run in the bottom of the third to tie the game, then drove in the go-ahead run with an RBI double in the fifth. By the time the inning was over, Atlanta led 6-3 and never looked back, according to Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Keller's ERA Climbs as Braves Bats Do Damage
Keller entered June with a 5-3 record, but Friday was rough from start to finish. He threw 99 pitches and allowed 3 walks alongside the 7 hits. His ERA climbed to 4.81. Three Braves hits in the fifth inning were clocked at over 105 mph exit velocity, per Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Keller said after the game he struggled to put away Atlanta's left-handed hitters.
It marks his second straight poor start. Keller has given up 13 runs over his last two outings covering just 8⅔ innings total. CBS Sports noted he had surrendered home runs in four of his last six starts. After a strong April — his ERA sat at 2.85 through early May — the regression has raised real questions about the Pirates' rotation.
Dubón Hits Third Straight Home Run, a Career First
Mauricio Dubón was the story of the night for Atlanta. He went 2-for-4 with 3 RBIs and 2 runs scored. His two-run blast in the third inning marked his third consecutive game with a home run — a career first, according to Associated Press. He followed that up with the go-ahead RBI double in the fifth to put the Braves ahead 4-3.
Austin Riley also hurt Pittsburgh, adding an RBI double off the right-field wall in the fifth inning to push the lead to 6-3. The AJC noted that the Braves have now won 10 of their 11 home series openers this season — a dominant pattern that has fueled their MLB-best record.
Former Pirates Perez and Ozuna Swap Roles in Atlanta
The game had an odd feel to it. MartÃn Pérez, who pitched for Pittsburgh in 2024 before being designated for assignment in April 2026, earned the win for the Braves. He threw 5 innings, giving up 3 runs on 3 hits. Meanwhile, former Brave Marcell Ozuna — now Pittsburgh's DH — went 2-for-4 and got a standing ovation from the Truist Park crowd, per Field Level Media.
After Pérez exited, the Braves' bullpen took over and retired 9 straight batters across the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings. Raisel Iglesias then closed it out in the ninth for his 12th save of the year, according to Associated Press, even after allowing a walk and a single.
Pirates' Rotation Under Scrutiny as Bullpen Strain Grows
The loss puts Pittsburgh's rotation in the spotlight. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that Paul Skenes and Jared Jones also dealt with shortened starts in the previous series. The Pirates' bullpen has been forced to cover more innings as a result. There is now open speculation about whether the team will move Wilber Dotel into the starting rotation. Team staff said they "certainly would not close the door on that."
The Pirates still sit above .500 at 34-30, but the gap between Pittsburgh and Atlanta is growing fast. CBS Sports pointed out that losing a series opener to a direct NL contender only makes the road to home-field advantage harder. The Pirates' offense — ranked fourth in MLB in scoring — was shut down by the Braves' pen, which retired 12 of the final 14 batters.
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