Mitch Keller’s nine‑strikeout gem vs. St. Louis keeps him atop the Pirates’ rotation in the second half, lifting his quality starts to 16—a mark that slots him as a steady 2/3 behind Paul Skenes. Pittsburgh’s depth behind them—Bubba Chandler, Braxton Ashcraft, Jared Jones, Johan Oviedo, Mike Burrows—offers upside, but consistency remains uncertain. A strong finish could anchor a 2026 run with Keller and Skenes as the backbone.

The decision to keep Keller at the trade deadline preserves innings and the team’s continuity. Bednar’s value looms in bullpen plans, while Heaney’s veteran depth adds flexibility. Absent a repeat of August’s woes, Keller could help the Pirates contend and provide fantasy managers with a viable late-season producer and a cornerstone for 2026.

The Pirates visit the Cardinals on August 26, 2025 with Mitch Keller vs. Andre Pallante on the mound. The Cards’ walk-off win by Alec Burleson evened the season series at 5-5 as Pittsburgh’s four-game win streak ended and St. Louis snapped a two-game slide. Odds tilt toward STL (-130) with the Mets-like 1.5-run spread and an 8.0 game total. NBC Sports’ model pins a lean to the over 8 and a Pirates +1.5 cover, while the lineup pages spotlight Keller and Pallante as the key pitching duel to monitor for fantasy pivots and DFS stacks.