Keuchel began the 2012 season with Oklahoma City. Keuchel made his MLB debut on June 17, 2012 against the Texas Rangers. He threw a complete game in his second start. Keuchel finished the 2012 season with a 5.27 ERA in 16 games started, while allowing more walks than strikeouts. He pitched to a 5.15 ERA in the 2013 season. In 2014, Keuchel had a 9–5 win-loss record and a 3.20 ERA at the All-Star break, and was a finalist for the final American League roster spot in the 2014 MLB All-Star Game. He finished the season with a 12–9 record and a 2.93 ERA. For his defense, Keuchel won both the Gold Glove Award and Fielding Bible Award.
2015: Cy Young Award
In April 2015, Keuchel pitched to a 3–0 record and a 0.73 ERA in five games started. He was named the AL's Pitcher of the Month for April 2015. He was honored as the AL Pitcher of the Month for May 2015, in which he pitched to a 4–1 record and a 2.62 ERA in six starts. Keuchel was selected for the AL roster in the 2015 MLB All-Star Game, and was chosen as the AL's starting pitcher. He won his third AL Pitcher of the Month Award for August, after pitching to a 4–1 record and a 1.94 ERA in six starts. Keuchel finished the 2015 season with a 15–0 record at Minute Maid Park, becoming the first pitcher in MLB history to finish with an undefeated record at home with at least 14 wins. His overall record for the year was 20–8, and he had a 2.48 ERA and 216 strikeouts. Among major league pitchers, he gave up the lowest percentage of hard-hit balls. He threw 3,492 pitches, more than any other major league pitcher. Keuchel started and won the 2015 American League Wild Card Game on three days' rest. On October 11, he followed up by beating the Kansas City Royals, 4–2, in Game 3 of the AL Divisional Series, to move the Astros within one game of advancing. In Game 5, Keuchel was brought in for a relief appearance on just 2 days of rest in the 8th inning and surrendered a 3-run home run as the Royals extended their lead to 7–2 which they held on to win the game and the series. Following the season, Keuchel won the Cy Young Award, the Gold Glove Award, the Fielding Bible Award, and the Warren Spahn Award, given to the best left-handed pitcher in MLB. Keuchel became the third Astro to win a Cy Young Award.
2017
Keuchel began the 2017 season by winning his fourth career AL Pitcher of the Month Award in April, after posting a 5–0 W–L and 1.21 ERA over six starts. He allowed six runs over IP. He became the first Astros pitcher to win four; J. R. Richard was the other Astros pitcher who had won three. He proceeded to start the season with a 7–0 record and a 1.84 ERA; however, on May 20, 2017, he was placed on the 10-day disabled list due to a pinched nerve in his neck. On June 8, 2017, Keuchel was again placed on the disabled list due to continuing neck woes. He was selected to play in the All-Star Game, held at Marlins Park in Miami. It was his second career selection. Keuchel finished 2017 making 23 starts with a 14–5 record, and a 2.90 ERA. The Astros won the American League West division with a 101–61 record, and also won the 2017 World Series. Three years later, it was revealed in the Houston Astros sign stealing scandal that the Astros had broken MLB rules during the 2017 season. Keuchel subsequently apologized for his role in the scandal.
2018
In 2018, Keuchel compiled a 12–11 record with a 3.74 ERA in a career-high 34 starts. He had the highest ground ball percentage among major league pitchers, and the lowest fly ball percentage. He also won his fourth Gold Glove. He became a free agent after the 2018 season.
Atlanta Braves
On June 7, 2019, Keuchel signed with the Atlanta Braves for one year worth $13 million. He made his first start on June 21. Over 19 starts for the year, Keuchel went 8–8 with a 3.75 ERA, striking out 91 over innings.
Chicago White Sox
On December 30, 2019, the Chicago White Sox signed Keuchel to a three-year $55.5 million contract. He made his White Sox debut on July 25, 2020, picking up the win over the Minnesota Twins.
Pitching style
Keuchel throws five pitches: a four-seam fastball averaging, a sinker averaging, a cut fastball averaging, a slider averaging, and a changeup averaging. He had learned a slurve while in high school, which he did not use in college, as he relied on his sinker and changeup. Needing a breaking ball when he became a professional, he learned to throw a curveball. He did not succeed with the curveball in the major leagues, and he developed a slider, which helped his results. Keuchel's sinker and slider both induce more ground balls than average across the league.
Personal life
Keuchel is the son of Dennis and Teresa Keuchel. He has an older sister, Krista.
