N.Y. Mets: Pressure on Marcus Stroman To Form One-Two Punch With Jacob deGrom

From the desk: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

UNLOAD THE TRUCK

Pitchers & Catchers

• Off-Season: Like a Nor'Easter Over Flushing Bay
• Pitchers & Catchers: deGrominator Rising

Marcus Stroman is finally looking forward to his first full campaign with the Mets.  His performance will undoubtedly be under the microscope this season, from the first second he climbs the mound to his very last pitch.  Whether the latter takes place in late September or sometime in late October, you might say, is very much within Stroman's control.  

Dare I say after Jacob deGrom, Marcus Stroman is the most important pitcher in the starting rotation.

He will either help provide the Mets with a solid one-two punch or instantly reveal a woeful lack of depth (other acquisitions be damned).

Stroman pitched all of eleven games for the Mets in 2019 upon his acquisition from the Blue Jays.  Last year he opted out of the season, citing COVID/safety concerns, which was his right.  No one begrudges him for that.  However, the time has now come for him to perform.  

In his 2019 National League debut, Stroman posted a 3.77 ERA, 4.15 FIFP, and 1.475 WHiP, with 23 walks and 60 strikeouts through eleven games and 59.2 innings pitched.  However, in 21 starts and 124.2 innings pitched, while with Toronto, Stroman posted a significantly lower 2.96 ERA, 3.15 FIP, and 1.277 WHiP.  He finished the season with a 3.22 ERA and 1.307 WHiP over 32 starts, and 184.1 innings pitched.  But that was eighteen months ago.

According to Fangraphs, since his rookie season (2014) through the 2019 season, Stroman has lost a full mph on his fastball, which is otherwise indicative of health and consistency.  But the 2019 season also features a marked change in his repertoire.

• (2014-2018)  54.42% fastball; 15.52% slider; 11.6% cutter; 11.48 curveball.
• (2019)           39.4% fastball; 2.0% slider; 24.0% cutter; 29.7% curveball.

I'm a big proponent of the curveball, especially in this day and age of fastball/change/slider.  I believe it better complements the fastball and lends itself as a more reliable out-pitch than a slider - just ask Carlos Beltran.  It's a dying art; thus, it should provide a good change of pace within the staff.

The pressure is on Marcus Stroman to be a strong number two.  But should he falter, and say, a guy named Zack Wheeler is having a better season with the Phillies, I suspect Stroman will be blocking fans by the thousands on Twitter.