N.Y. Mets: On the Bullpen's Three Game Trend

From the desk: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

TRUCKING UP I-95 ON THE LAST LEG HOME

OPENING DAY

Marlins

vs.

Mets

FROM

ROOSEVELT AVENUE GROUNDS

Flushing, Queens

Edwin Diaz Coming to a Ballpark Near You

If you follow me, you're familiar with one of my rules of thumb: once is an event, twice is a coincidence, and three times is a trend.  

Insofar as trending, there is the micro and the macro.  For the moment, we have a three-game series at Philadelphia to speak of.  By mid-April, we will have three series to compare and contrast.  

The point being, I apply equal importance to early-season games as I would to any in June or September.  I believe in getting off to good starts with the idea that you cannot win pennants in April, but you can certainly lose them.

Therefore, with great angst, I say the Mets will go as far as their bullpen carries them.  I'm not breaking new ground here.  That is just the modern condition of baseball.  

In the first three games alone, the Mets relievers relinquished a lead, upheld a lead in game two, then played a rather inconsequential role in Wednesday afternoon's loss against the Phillies.

Manager Luis Rojas called upon three relievers in each of the first three games.  In games one and two,  Miguel Castro and Trevor May were joined by Aaron Loup and Jeurys Familia.  On Wednesday, Jacob Barnes, Dellin Betances, and Joey Lucchesi each made their season debut. 

Overall, the bullpen has accounted for 36% of the Mets 25 total innings pitched.  Seven different relievers have joined together to throw 194 pitches, with 118 (60.8%) going for strikes.  They've yielded six earned runs on 13 hits and three walks through nine innings for a 6.00 ERA and 1.77 WHiP with eleven strikeouts.  Still slated to be a starter, Joey Lucchesi distinguished himself by allowing one lone hit with three strikeouts through two innings pitched. 

Despite David Peterson lasting just four innings Wednesday against the Phillies, the Mets' first three starters, in turn, accounted for 64% of all innings pitched.  By midsummer, I expect the starting rotation to account for at least 68% of innings pitched.  In the meantime, Peterson's abbreviated start raised the bullpen's average usage up to three innings per game.

On Thursday, the Mets host the Miami Marlins for Opening Day at Citi Field.  Edwin Diaz is likely to make his season debut at home, assuming the Mets own a late-inning lead.  Lest we forget, last year the Marlins qualified for the post-season, and the Mets did not.  

Robert Gsellman is also yet to make his first appearance.

I eagerly await to see the next trios of relievers Luis Rojas deploys against the Marlins because that's how he's trending. 

N.Y. Mets Earn First Win Despite More Late Inning High-Jinx

From the desk: HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

Mets vs. Phillies; 1-1

I - PHI 5; NYM 3

II - NYM 8; PHI 4

METS

vs.

PHILLIES

FROM

BROAD STREET GROUNDS

BULLPEN ALREADY SINGING THE BROAD STREET BLUES

With Tuesday's 8-4 victory over Philadelphia scribbled in the book, we've been afforded a small glimpse into the Mets' pitching one-two punch.  

I do not begrudge the Mets for removing Jacob deGrom from Monday's season opener when they did.  The club is proceeding cautiously.  Jacob was limited to 77 pitches, with 50 (65%) going for strikes.  Marcus Stroman was similarly limited to 85 pitches, of which 53 (62%) went for strikes.

Otherwise, their first respective starts of the season provided quite the teaser.  Jacob yielded no runs on just three hits and two walks with seven strikeouts through six innings pitched, and Stroman allowed just one run on three hits (solo home run) and two walks with three strikeouts also over six innings.  That translates to six hits and four walks with ten strikeouts and a 0.75 ERA through the rotation's first twelve innings pitched.

• Sophomore lefty David Peterson climbs the bump Wednesday afternoon and will be opposed by  Aaron Nola.

Otherwise, the bullpen has been a mixed bag of goods.  On Monday, they wasted no time relinquishing their first lead, earning their first blown save, and ultimately achieving their first loss of the new season.  Miguel Castro tossed an effective seventh inning.  However, new acquisitions Trevor May and Aaron Loup joined together in the eighth inning to yield five runs, two earned, on three hits and one walk.  

On Tuesday, Trevor May and Miguel Castro respectively made their second straight appearance.  This time Castro in the seventh yielded a run on three hits with two strikeouts.  However, Trevor May fared better in his second outing, fanning two in the eighth.  Jeurys Familia, to no one's surprise, struggled while closing out the ninth.  Handed an 8-2 lead, Jeurys surrendered two runs, one earned, on two hits and a walk with one strikeout.  That strikeout, by the way, came against pinch-hitter Andrew McCutchen on a high fastball which I believe is one of the most effective yet underutilized finishing pitches in baseball.  Jeurys may want to take that into consideration ... 

All told, six relievers were utilized over the two games.  They collectively threw 118 pitches, with 75 (63%) going for strikes.  Together, they've yielded eight runs, four earned, for an unsightly 7.20 ERA, eleven hits, and two walks with six strikeouts through five innings pitched.

And if you've noticed, the Mets have allowed four unearned runs due to late-inning defensive miscues; three errors, to be exact.

a second straight game featuring late-inning defensive folly = coincidence. Three times is a trend ...

— The Metsian Podcast with Sam, Rich and Mike (@THEMetsianPod) April 7, 2021