N.Y. Mets: The Bullpen Strikes Back

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

The Bullpen's Back and You're Gonna Be In Trouble

It's no coincidence that since the return of relievers Luis Avilan and Justin Wilson, it's not just Seth Lugo whom appears back in top form.  The bullpen and pitching staff as a whole are excelling and the Mets are surging as a result.

Avilan was sporting a 9.28 ERA when on May 3 he succumbed to injury.  He misses the rest of May and all of June.  Justin Wilson's ERA stood at 4.82 when on May 6 he too is felled by injury.  Like Avilan, Justin Wilson misses the rest of May and all of June.  By the time both relievers go missing the Mets own a 16-19 record.  Without them the Mets go on to win 12 of their remaining 22 games in May, but lose 18 of 28 games in June dropping their record to 26-37 for the season.

On May 7, Seth Lugo owns a 3.13 ERA.  In the absence of Avilan and Wilson his ERA balloons to a 3.60 mark.  In June Lugo yields seven earned runs on 15 hits with a 4.84 ERA and three blown saves over ten appearances and 13 innings pitched.

Justin Wilson returns on July 2 and has since lowered his ERA to a 2.86 mark.  Luis Avilan returns on July 5 and has since lowered his ERA to a 5.12 mark.  In turn Seth Lugo has lowered his ERA from 3.51 at the start of July down to 2.73 by month's end.  As of Sunday he owns a 2.65 ERA through 45 appearances.

Since July 3 even Jeurys Familia has lowered his ERA by more than a full point.

The bullpen owns a 3.20 ERA since the all-star break, and the pitching staff as a whole owns a 2.70 ERA while in the midst of this Amazin' 15-1 run.