While Pete Alonso, Juan Soto and Francisco Lindor have, predictably, been the Mets’ biggest stars through the early part of the season, the bullpen deserves some credit too. Call them the unsung heroes of the Mets. Their Amazin’ performances have helped protect the leads for the heavy hitters, and they show no signs of slowing down.
The relief group’s 2.10 ERA is the third-best in baseball behind the San Diego Padres and San Francisco Giants. Remarkably, the Mets haven’t had to make any roster moves to shuffle around the arms and get fresh ones in just yet, despite the fact that the Mets have only had a starting pitcher make it through seven innings once (Kodai Senga), and six innings three times (twice for David Peterson, once for Griffin Canning).
The bullpen has benefited tremendously from health and luck, as well as a trio of relievers capable of picking up more than three outs in high- or low-leverage innings (right-handers Max Kranick, Jose Butto and Huascar Brazobán).
A number of qualities have led to the success of the bullpen, with velocity and pitch shapes being two of them. In recent seasons, the Mets haven’t had a lot of velocity in the ‘pen outside of Edwin Diaz. Two years ago, without Diaz, the Mets didn’t have any reliever who threw particularly hard.
Now, they have Ryne Stanek sitting 98-99, Kranick hitting 97-98 and Brazobán reaching back for 97 at times. Diaz’s velocity has ebbed and flowed as he’s struggled with consistent control at times, but his fastball can still hit 99 with devastating movement.
It’s a more well-rounded, dynamic bullpen.
“It definitely helps,” manager Carlos Mendoza said Saturday at Citi Field. “Not only the velo, but pitch shape and movement. You talk about Stanek throwing 98, but he also has a slider, and he’s got a split. Kranick, same thing; he’s got the fastball, kind of like a four-seamer with the slider. Brazobán throws 97 but it’s a sinking 97 that goes with the cutter and the changeup.”
Then there’s right-hander Reed Garrett, who is barely throwing his fastball but he throws a hard sinker. The pitch averages 96 MPH, but he’s thrown it even harder at times. It misses a lot of bats even at 96, breaking inside to right-handed hitters.
Garrett has yet to allow an earned run this season.
Credit the bullpen for the Mets’ hot start this season. The heavy hitters are producing runs, but the relievers are making sure they stand up.
“It’s not only the velo or the power coming from those guys, but the movement of the pitches,” Mendoza said. “I think it’s paying good dividends here for us.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Catcher Francisco Alvarez (hamate surgery) is medically cleared to return to the big leagues. The focus of his remaining rehab games will be on ensuring he’s ready to hit in the big leagues as well. Alvarez caught nine innings Friday night for Double-A Binghamton and will do the same Saturday. The Mets will likely see him DH Sunday and evaluate whether or not he’s ready to return for the next home series against the Philadelphia Phillies, which begins Monday.
Second baseman Jeff McNeil (oblique strain) will play back-to-back games in Binghamton this weekend, and the team will evaluate his status Monday.
Right-hander Paul Blackburn (sore knee) is scheduled for a rehab start with High-A Brooklyn on Saturday.
HISTORY IN THE HEAD
While most of the Mets were in the dugout late Friday night when Francisco Lindor hit his 250th home run, David Peterson was elsewhere — in the bathroom, to be specific. The left-hander, who started the game and came out in the sixth inning, heard play-by-play man Howie Rose call Lindor’s second-deck, walk-off home run and scrambled to get to in front of a clubhouse TV.
Luckily, he finished his business just in time.
“I heard Howie’s call and came running out,” Peterson said. “I was able to see it on delay.”
