Third Time Through Mets Starting Rotation

I'm still clinging to hope that a pitching staff that was critiqued all spring for being old can somehow reach the 7th inning and not make it seem like an amazing accomplishment. Should I be super excited about the Mets' No. 5 starter reaching the 6th inning? How about any Mets starter?

There's only so many relievers that can be signed, sent out to pitch multiple games, earn a win and be designated for assignment the next day. And I know I'm a touch too deep in when I know that Francisco Alvarez is in the majors because there are only three catchers on the Mets' 40-man roster. I heard a radio caller call for the promotion of Kevin Parada, another 21-year old who's playing his second season with the High-A Brooklyn Cyclones.

Even if Billy Eppler wanted to add another rookie catcher to handle this veteran state; the team would have to add Parada to the aforementioned 40-man roster. Thus removing someone from it and with the celebration around for a Mets starter into the 6th inning; I think keeping all pitching options open is the prudent move.

At least until the team returns from the West Coast.

April 10 - Mets 5, Padres 0

Max Scherzer: 5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 6 SO

Starting the night with a wild pitch to walk the opening batter wasn’t ideal for Scherzer; especially with promos reminding SNY viewers how he failed against San Diego last postseason. After striking out Manny Machado, he walked Juan Soto and received jeers from an impatient Citi Field crowd. But a 6-4-3 double play is a great salve for any struggling pitcher and this one got Scherzer through the first inning unscathed.

An 8-pitch walk and a throwing error put a runner at 2nd to start the third inning. SNY’s Steve Gelbs mentioned how Scherzer was failing to get a crucial swinging strike, but Trent Grisham stared at a low fastball for a 2nd out. Then, Scherzer threw six straight sliders to Machado, getting a pop up and another scoreless frame.

Taking a 2-0 lead into the 4th, Scherzer and everyone in Blue and Orange wanted a shutdown inning...and that’s exactly what he delivered. But with the state of the bullpen, starting the fifth was more important and getting Austin Nola to swing at ball four to end it scoreless even more so.

I’m uncertain how to feel about being pleased my top starter made it through five; but San Diego’s lineup just keeps coming and with the heightened intensity, I don’t think a third time through their lineup would be wise.

April 11 - Padres 4, Mets 2

David Peterson: 5.2 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 SO

Soto hit a foul ball that nearly reached the concourse in the upper deck. Peterson walked him a pitch later, then finished a strong opening inning by striking out Nelson Cruz. The 6-foot-6 starter is starting to look comfortable; making a spectacular play on a potential sac bunt look routine to get Ha Song Kim trying for a hit. Peterson made the 3rd inning look routine, finishing it on just six pitches.

You don’t think about an immaculate inning until it’s almost there. Peterson was a pitch away in the fourth, but Jake Cronenworth worked out a 2-out walk. Kim followed working the count full, but was caught looking at strike 3 like Soto to end the frame.

A hanging curve to start the 5th was slammed off the left field wall & suddenly the go-ahead runs were on base with Xander Bogaerts at the dish. A foul ball off Alvarez led to the umpire walking out to the mound to give Peterson the new ball. It paused the pitch clock, giving the catcher time to get settled. The discretion of individual umpires is what will make the pitch clock a seamless part of the game by July.

Going back to the slider a third time against Machado didn’t work and the Padres took the lead. But Peterson finished strong, striking out Soto again to end the inning. He cruised through the first two batters in the sixth, but Kim went the other way on - what else? - an off-speed pitch and that ended Peterson’s game before qualifying for a quality start.

April 12 - Mets 5, Padres 2

Tylor Megill: 5 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 3 SO

Soto was bound to strike. It was the first inning on Wednesday, costing Megill two runs after a walk to Machado. After the Mets loaded the bases with less than two outs for the second straight day without scoring a run; the extended rest didn’t affect Megill, just the crowd searching for a reason to cheer.

They would cheer Megill’s first strikeout; a pretty change up after consistent pitches with his 4-seam fastball at 96 MPH. He used the same pitch, but high and outside to strike out Soto to start the 4th. Jeff McNeil initiated a double play, dropping a soft liner according to the umpire. It was convenient the ball rolled directly to Francisco Lindor; but everyone was smiles after a fly out ended the frame.

Megill earned smiles by rebounding after ‘getting punched in the mouth’ to start the game; keeping the Mets close and throwing less pitches than Blake Snell through five innings. And by sticking around long enough to watch Pete Alonso’s latest blast; he left in line to win or "on the long side" to quote SNY’s Gary Cohen.

April 14 - Mets 17, Athletics 6

Kodai Senga: 4.2 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 4 BB, 7 SO

Miami had the fortune to face Senga during spring training; and then his first two MLB starts. That means Oakland’s lineup saw his Ghost Fork for the first time ever. It showed as the first three batters looked somewhat foolish in a quick opening frame.

Mets batters looked at a lot of pitches, allowing James Kaprielian to walk five in the 2nd inning before Lindor’s grand slam gave Senga the biggest lead any Mets starter has had this year. After the long wait back to the rubber, Senga walked the first batter on four pitches. He would come back to strike out three batters in the inning, using the Ghost to get out of a jam.

Eduardo Escobar is getting close to being off the Interstate; batting less than .100 with another fly out. Nevertheless; his glove is why he’s still on the field. He showed it off, snagging a line drive and doubling off a runner in the 3rd. But defense couldn't save Senga from a run after another walk; then two well-placed bloops to right field. Jeremy Hefner and a translator came out after 50 pitches to slow things down. The result was a three-pitch strikeout on nothing but fastballs to end the 3rd.

Senga would have another long wait before the fourth as the Mets knocked Kaprielianin out after just 3.2 innings. Instead of another shutdown inning, Senga was sloppy and gave up two walks and a two-run homer. A dropped third strike kept the inning alive and suddenly the tying run was at the plate; but Brent Rooker rolled out to Escobar to end the threat.

The Mets’ second 6-run inning of the evening on just one hit took so long that Senga went down to the outfield bullpen to throw pitches and stay warm. It seemed to work as he got the first two outs in the fifth, but soon allowed a solo homer on an off speed pitch. That eliminated the opportunity for a quality start and after another walk, Buck Showalter ended his evening at 96 pitches. A shaky start for sure; but the offensive explosion was a great excuse for a "bad start".

April 15 - Mets 3, Athletics 2

Carlos Carrasco: 5 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO

If anyone needed a 1-2-3 opening inning, it was Carrasco. Two bad starts meant an ERA with four digits; keeping crooked digits off the scoreboard after two ropes off the left field wall became vital an inning later. Carrasco got two outs, but with two base runners on against the number 9 hitter, Ruiz dumped a ball into right field for a 2-0 lead after just two innings.

Carrasco retired four in a row before Jesus Agular ripped a double off the wall in the fourth and missed low on a 3-2 count to put runners on the corners. Hitting Ruiz loaded the bases and brought Jeremy Hefner to the mound. Whatever he said worked since Kemp’s liner down the left field line was caught by Mark Cahna; cleaning up the second time Carrasco couldn’t manage the bottom of the A’s order.

But another 1-2-3 inning put Carrasco through five innings for the first time in 2023 and something should be said since the only thing Oakland seems to do well this year is hit. But hitting your third Athletic of the day isn’t a way to stay in the game; egregious enough for Showalter to have seen enough. With all the Mets’ pitching woes early on, is it enough that Carrasco is getting better? It’s only the third time through but to paraphrase a Met legend; it can get late real early around here and that’s the truth.