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Mitch Keller's Woes Continue as Pirates Secure Sixth Straight Losing Season**

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Keller's Recent Struggles**

Mitch Keller's second-half struggles continued on Wednesday night as the Pittsburgh Pirates fell to the Cincinnati Reds, securing their sixth consecutive losing season. Keller, who was once considered a top prospect, has now allowed 15 runs in his last three starts, raising his ERA to 5.07 on the season. The Pirates have lost 10 of their last 12 games and are now 60-92, the worst record in the National League. **

Pirates' Losing Ways**

The Pirates' loss to the Reds marks their sixth consecutive losing season, the longest such streak in franchise history. The Pirates have not had a winning record since 2015, when they went 98-64 and won the National League Wild Card Game. Since then, the Pirates have gone 412-560, finishing in last place in the NL Central four times. **

Lack of Offensive Output**

One of the biggest reasons for the Pirates' struggles this season has been their lack of offensive output. The Pirates rank last in the NL in runs scored (609) and batting average (.234). They have also struck out a league-high 1,547 times. The Pirates have been particularly anemic against right-handed pitching, hitting just .208 with a .681 OPS. **

Bright Spots for Pirates**

Despite their struggles, the Pirates have had a few bright spots this season. One of those has been the emergence of rookie outfielder Jack Suwinski, who has hit 20 home runs and driven in 57 runs in his first full season in the majors. Another bright spot has been the bullpen, which has a 3.78 ERA, the fifth-best mark in the NL. **

Looking Ahead**

The Pirates have just two games remaining in the 2022 season, both against the Reds. They will then head into the offseason, where they will need to make some significant changes in order to improve their fortunes. The Pirates have a number of young players with potential, but they need to add some more veteran leadership and experience to their roster. They also need to find a way to improve their offense, which has been one of the worst in the league this season.