N.Y. Mets: Starters Make Opening Pitch

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

FOUR HURLERS of the METROPOLIS

Jacob deGrom  Noah Syndergaard  Zack Wheeler  Steven Matz

New York Mets: First Time Around the Rotation.

The starting rotation completed its first turn around the loop Tuesday evening at Miami.  Jacob deGrom faced off against Nationals ace Max Scherzer in last Thursday's season opener at Washington where fans were treated to an old school duel.  Both pitchers would achieve double-digit strikeouts.  But it was deGrom whom would emerge victorious.  Last year's National League Cy Young award recipient allowed just five hits and a walk over six scoreless innings, while striking out ten.

Noah Syndergaard opposed Stephen Strasburg on Saturday, allowing four earned runs on seven hits and four walks, while fanning seven en route to a no-decision.  This was typical Thor blowing through his pitch count by the sixth.  All told he threw 103 pitches with no regard for pacing.  He again seems content throwing as hard as he can for as long as he can.  Watching two-strike pitch after two-strike pitch get fouled off is sometimes numbing.  Which is to say he still has trouble putting batters away, which I think may be a matter of craftsmanship.  Perhaps he needs to spend less time feuding with Mr. Met and putting in more work perfecting an out-pitch.

Zack Wheeler didn't nearly experience the success I was anticipating.  He blew through 95 pitches in just five innings of work against the Nationals on Sunday, in which he allowed four earned runs on six hits, a walk, with seven strikeouts.  But like Syndergaard, he escaped with a no-decision.  I'm a big believer in Wheeler.  And now that deGrom has been signed to a contract, locking up Zack - a looming free agent - should be the club's next priority.  Last year's second-half performance speaks volumes to me.  However, the Mets appear geared for a game of chicken ... which I believe is a mistake.

Steven Matz pitched Monday's series opener at Miami to mixed results.  He threw 74 pitches with an efficient 54 (71%) going for strikes.  But could have used some help as he allowed three earned runs (one earned) on six hits and no walks, with three strikeouts through 5.1 innings pitched.

And then there's Jason Vargas ... the Mets de facto number five starter.  He somehow wins 18 games for Kansas City in 2017 with an American League acceptable 4.16 ERA.  But last season gets off to a terrible start in first season with the Mets.  But from Aug.2 right through to the end of the season, Vargas lowered his ERA by over two and one-half points from 8.36 down to 5.77, while winning five of his last even starts.  He took the mound on Tuesday in game two against the Marlins.  His line reads friendlier than his actual performance.  Vargas allowed two runs on eight hits and one walk, with two strikeouts through five innings for the victory.

FIRST TIME THROUGH METS ROTATION

• Starts: 5
• Record: 2-0
• Innings: 27.1
• ERA: 3.56
• Hits Allowed: 32
• Walks: 7
• WHiP: 1.439
• Strikeouts: 29

Up next: Take Two.