There was a great deal of hype surrounding the Mets’ rotation entering the 2022 season. But after ace Jacob deGrom was found to have a stress reaction in his right shoulder blade that would sideline him indefinitely, no it was hard to imagine injuries derailing what was supposed to be one of the best units in the league.
However, in the early part of the regular season, it appears the Mets have more than enough starting pitching to get by until deGrom returns.
Through the first 10 games of the year, the Mets’ rotation posted a 1.07 ERA. This is the longest 10-game streak to start a season by any starting team in baseball history since the earned run became a statistic in 1913, according to Sports Radar.
The Mets’ rotation has pitched 50 1/3 innings, allowing just six earned runs, striking out 59 batters and giving up just 11 walks. Opposing offenses have hit three measly home runs and are also hitting .158 off the staff.
This historic start is shocking considering it came without deGrom. Not to mention, future Hall of Famer Max Scherzer hasn’t been his usual dominant self, but he still managed to go solid 2-0 with a 3.27 ERA.
The Mets have received stunning performances from deGrom’s replacement in second-year starter Tylor Megill (0.00 ERA in 10.1 innings), offseason acquisition Chris Bassitt (0.75 ERA in 12 innings) and veteran Carlos Carrasco (0.84 ERA in 10.2 innings). tickets).
Fifth starter Taijuan Walker pitched two perfect innings on April 11 at Philadelphia before landing on the disabled list with bursitis in his right shoulder. Walker has been replaced in the rotation by left-hander David Peterson, who has followed the program by not allowing a run in 8 1/3 innings this season (one start).
“It’s really good and it’s going to be that way all year long,” Carrasco said of the rotation’s quick start after throwing five scoreless innings Saturday. “We’re missing Jake, but we’ve got (Tylor) Megill and all these guys. We’re going to be fine.”
Carrasco looks like one of the early candidates to bounce back from the Mets this season. Last year, a torn hamstring and a bone spur in his elbow caused the right-hander to make just 12 starts and post a 6.04 ERA. After undergoing surgery to remove the bone spur from his right elbow in October, Carrasco is back to his old self. As a result of his elbow procedure, Carrasco can throw his signature split changeup and slide the way he wants, which has made the difference in his first two starts.
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And speaking of Megill, whom Carrasco praised for his impressive performance in his first two starts, the 26-year-old worked on his mechanics this offseason and is now throwing his four-seam fastball at 98 and 99 mph. According to Baseball Savant, Megill averaged 94.6 mph at his fastball in 2021, which has increased to 96.4 this season. Megill also added a cutter, which plays off his changeup, his favorite shot against southpaws. The right-hander quickly went from contending for a spot in the rotation to being a key factor for this unit after deGrom went on the ledge. He has risen to the occasion so far.
As for Bassitt, he’s pitching like the Cy Young-caliber ace the Mets thought they were getting when they sent two pitching prospects to the Oakland A’s for a March trade. Bassitt has also been credited with providing plenty of advice to younger Mets pitchers like Megill and Peterson. Bassitt has been seen showing the rest of the staff some iPad tips on the sidelines on SNY’s television broadcast.
The Mets also made the decision to keep pitching coach Jeremy Hefner, the only remaining member of former manager Luis Rojas’ staff. Hefner has been credited for his work with the pitching staff since he got the job in 2020, and he’s making the most of his group, despite losing some key arms.
General manager Billy Eppler made it a priority to address the pitching staff and clubhouse chemistry during the offseason. So far, he appears to have nailed this model, which has seen the rotation thrive in historic and unlikely ways, even without deGrom.
As a result, the Mets are 7-3 entering the 2022 season. Their rotation is the best in the MLB, which has never seen a better 10-game stretch to open a season in the history of the sport.
Read more:
– Why Carlos Carrasco seems one of the first candidates to recover for the Mets
– When the Mets could get Brandon Nimmo, Mark Canha and Glenn Sherlock back from COVID IL
– Mets injury updates: Jacob deGrom, Taijuan Walker
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Source: www.si.com