This is the home stretch of a long and winding road that was foreseen by Mets manager Buck Showalter.
“We’ve been gone about two months including the [first] road trip, came home and won two series,” Showalter said to the New York Post. “We’re headed on the road for a big challenge. We’re playing [17] games on the road in April without a bunch of off days, so we knew going into the season that April was going to be a challenge.”
The challenge’s difficulty increased when Max Scherzer was pushed back; then was removed from the betting board when Carlos Carrasco was placed on the IL minutes before Tylor Megill’s start on Tuesday.
The 34-year old was 0-2 with an ERA well north of five, but optimistic fans will recall him completing five innings for the first time in 2023 against Oakland. Nevertheless, inflammation in his throwing elbow will leave Showalter searching for another starter.
I wasn’t necessarily thrilled with Jose Butto’s start against the A’s, but recognized its importance after he finished five frames. He was optioned down to Triple-AAA and could have returned since Carrasco is injured, but the team has already recalled reliever Jeff Brigham to take the active roster spot.
Butto will have to wait the full 15 days starting from April 16, so he could be available at the end of the month. After working out the potential rotation for the next few weeks, I thought Butto’s addition was to open a future rotation spot for the triumphant return of Justin Verlander.
The reigning AL Cy Young winner is on a five-day throwing program with a minor league rehab start coming soon. His return points towards the first week of May as April ends with a four-game series at Citi Field against the Atlanta Braves. The initial intentions to have both of the hired guns ready for them while also skipping Kodai Senga’s start for the series was in play.
The latter move wasn’t likely, but I like thinking management is looking that far down the road and saving an extra bullet in the holster. Atlanta’s lineup is its strength and the longer they can only see highlights of the Ghost before facing it has to be helpful, right?
I realize I’m grasping at straws, but this team is built on its defense. The lineup’s ability to work counts and put the ball in play is crucial, along with a starting staff that served well a year ago. It’s a pitching staff that fans are complaining about barely escaping the fifth inning, but maybe not realizing that that’s the way of the baseball world today.
As subpar as we all believe the Mets’ staff to be so far, the 92 2/3 innings pitched as of Wednesday puts them 14th, averaging a little over 5 1/3 innings per start, which is two spots ahead of the Braves. Reports say that five innings is the new seven. Numbers might back it up, but I’m under the impression that it’s still April. Older arms need a few starts to get acclimated to the long grind that is a 162-game season. At least that’s what I tell myself to go to sleep at night and that’s the truth.
Upcoming Series: New York Mets at San Francisco Giants
Thursday, April 20 - 9:45 pm
Kodai Senga (2-0, 3.38) v. Sean Manaea (0-0, 4.76 ERA)
Friday, April 21 - 10:15 pm
TBA v. Anthony DeSciafani (1-0, 1.42 ERA)
Saturday, April 22 - 4:05 pm
David Peterson (1-2, 6.10 ERA) v. Logan Webb (0-4, 4.94 ERA)
Sunday, April 23 - 7:10 pm
Tylor Megill (3-1, 3.00 ERA) v. TBA
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