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Kovacevic: Pirates fairly envision their future in state's other franchise

PHILADELPHIA -- Mitch Keller's mind wasn't on the mound anymore.

It wasn't even in his own dugout.

The sixth inning had just ended. In the fifth, he'd registered the 210th strikeout of his superlative 2023, passing A.J. Burnett for the Pirates' single-season record for a right-hander, this while no-hitting the reigning National League pennant holders. In the sixth, he finally conceded a couple runs and hits, Derek Shelton told him that was that, and he'd plopped down at the far end of the bench after all the customary hugs and handshakes.