Mets manager Luis Rojas didn’t seem to navigate the later innings of Tuesday night’s loss as if it were a must-win game, although their spot in the standings and the minimal amount of time left in the season suggests that it was a game New York desperately needed.
Instead, Rojas went the cautious route, prioritizing arm care and removing Marcus Stroman after six innings and 89 pitches, and Aaron Loup after a perfect seven-pitch inning. Jeurys Familia faltered in the eighth, but Trevor May and Edwin Diaz came on to throw 13 pitches apiece to stop the bleeding, and both were promptly removed.
Listen to New York sports talk now on Audacy and shop the latest Mets team gear
What was left was Jake Reed, a rookie activated from the IL earlier on Tuesday, who allowed three runs in the 11th in another backbreaking loss for the Mets. Trevor Williams came on to clean up the mess after the fact, rather than before any mess needed cleaning.
“Jake Reed is a reliever, Trevor is a starter/reliever,” Rojas said. “I don’t think he’s thrown back-to-back ever, or recently. So we’re pushing it there with him. Reed is a guy who has been very effective with us. He hadn’t allowed an earned run until tonight. From where he throws, his slider is pretty effective against righties. Not the case tonight, but that’s where the decision came from.”
Rojas’ questionable decisions began with Stroman, who continued his fantastic season by allowing two runs over six innings while striking out eight. He wasn’t taken out due to the need of a pinch hitter, as his spot wasn’t due up in the bottom of the sixth, but rather, Rojas wanted to play it safe with one of his top starters.
“As you guys know, he’s pitched the whole year and didn’t miss a start,” Rojas said. “At that time, that was it. He was done. So that’s when we went with Loup the next inning.
“You know that look. Last time we were in Miami, he didn’t give us that…we have the read on different guys and the read on Stroman tonight. He was in agreement that he was done after the sixth.”
Rojas stressed that the decisions when it comes to removing pitchers are a collaborative effort, between the pitcher, Rojas himself, pitching coach Jeremy Hefner and the training staff come together to make such decisions, and Rojas stressed that Stroman wasn’t opposed to the decision to come out of the game.
“The player, they respond according to their usage and how much they’ve been used this season,” Rojas said. “Stroman tonight, he was fatigued for all the innings he’s been used. Loup is a guy that’s been needing extra days at times to come back, so two innings is a push as well…we’d love everyone to leave their arm out there…but sometimes it’s not real.”
At a time where the Mets truly need all hands on deck and a strong sense of urgency, Rojas and the Mets will continue to play it safe. It can be argued that that mindset cost the team a chance to directly make up ground in the playoff race, with the Braves, Reds, Padres and Phillies all losing on Tuesday. But Rojas is standing firm in the organization’s approach, which doesn’t appear to change between the early months of the season and a playoff push in September.
“I can’t ask any more of the guys,” Rojas said. “Right now it would be unfair. I can’t put them in a situation where it would compromise their stuff, their health. You might run a guy out there and he might not be the same guy.”
Follow Ryan Chichester on Twitter: @ryanchichester1
Follow WFAN on Social Media
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Twitch