Despite moving parts, NY Mets' rotation has actually performed well in 2021

NEW YORK — This season, the Mets’ frequent offensive ineptitude has actually brought out a positive spotlight on a starting rotation that, for the most part, has excelled. 

Without it, the Mets would find themselves even further down the standings. They probably would have even less a chance at making the postseason as they do now. 

The most impressive part: The Mets’ rotation situation has not gone to plan. 

“It’s been challenging,” manager Luis Rojas said. “We had a bunch of different starters.”

The Mets have started 18 different pitchers, though multiple acted as openers. Still, they’ve had moving parts all season. 

Ace Jacob deGrom has not pitched since July and David Peterson, another member of the Opening Day rotation, last pitched in June. Joey Lucchesi, who made himself a consistent rotation member, has not pitched since June. Carlos Carrasco didn’t return from a hamstring injury until July and Noah Syndergaard has yet to pitch this season. 

Despite this, the Mets’ starting pitchers — all of them — have combined to rank seventh in baseball with a 3.74 ERA. That mark leads the NL East and is better than the NL’s wild card contenders not named the Dodgers, who have already clinched a postseason berth. The Mets’ starters also have allowed the eighth-fewest home runs (98) in baseball. 

Marcus Stroman, who has a 2.88 ERA over 31 starts, has led the group. If the NL's pitching weren't stacked this season, Stroman might have been a legitimate Cy Young contender. He's been that good. 

The only knock might be this: The Mets have only gotten 718 ⅔ innings out of their starters this season, which ranks 22nd in the sport. Of course, certain factors affect this, like using openers or Carrasco not being fully stretched out when he entered the rotation. 

The Mets’ starters, however, have been brilliant. Because of the lackluster offense, they’ve often pitched with little margin for error. And because of injuries, they’ve used openers and have often had “TBD” listed for the next day. 

Still, the Mets’ starting rotation has given them a chance all season. 

“It could have been really, really worse, very much worse,” Rojas said. 

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Zack Wheeler turns the tables on Mets

Brodie Van Wagenen is gone, as are most of his executives from his time in Queens. The Wilpons have also departed. The Mets have embarked on a new era. 

Zack Wheeler continues to turn heads, and those heads also turn toward the Mets, who let him walk two offseasons ago. 

Entering Friday night’s game at Citi Field, Wheeler’s 2.86 ERA ranked eighth in all of baseball. He even led the league with 195 ⅓ innings pitched. 

In seven previous starts against the Mets, Wheeler went 3-1 with a 2.72 ERA over 49 ⅔ innings. He struck out 44 while walking six. 

"He's been really good against us,” Rojas said. “We've had some success against him too, I think a lot of the guys because of knowing him could bring a good approach into the game, just knowing the stuff and knowing some tendencies. 

“But Zack's a special pitcher. He's one of the best pitchers in the game. The thing with him is his stuff and the command can be elite at the same time. Sometimes the stuff can be elite and the command not so much, but when he has that stuff and command going, it's really tough to hit.”

Mets activate Brandon Nimmo off the injured list

The Mets on Friday activated Brandon Nimmo (hamstring strain) off the injured list and put him in center field and second in the batting order. 

The Mets always believed Nimmo’s hamstring strain to be on the mild side, but the fact he returned in under two weeks is impressive. 

It seems the Mets will keep Jonathan Villar in the leadoff spot with Nimmo right behind him. As Rojas put it, the club believes Nimmo will be “Nimmo anywhere” with his ability to get on base. This season, Nimmo has a .420 on-base percentage. 

Asked if Nimmo will play every day or if the Mets will exercise caution, as they have with guys all season, Rojas said: “We’ll see the workload, everything that happens in the game starting tonight. And we’ll see about that. We have a few days off ahead of us so that might help cushion some of his playing time and all of that as we’re nearing the end of the season, and obviously we need his presence in the lineup to score some runs. We got to win all these games.”

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Updates on Noah Syndergaard’s, Jacob deGrom 

Noah Syndergaard will face batters again this weekend, Rojas said. 

The only thing left for the Mets to decide, Rojas said, is whether that will be on a rehab assignment or at Citi Field in a live batting practice setting. 

Jacob deGrom, who threw off the mound earlier in the week, played some catch on Friday. He is expected to throw another bullpen session — he felt well after his first one, Rojas said — in the next couple days. 

Team’s roster moves

As a corresponding move for Nimmo, the Mets optioned righty Jake Reed to Triple-A Syracuse. 

Right-hander Jordan Yamamoto, sidelined since late May with right shoulder soreness, was reinstated off the 60-day injured list and optioned to Triple A. 

Left-hander Thomas Szapucki, who underwent ulnar nerve transposition surgery earlier this summer, was placed on the 60-day injured list. 

Justin Toscano is the Mets beat writer for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to all Mets analysis, news, trades and more, please subscribe today and download our app.

Email: toscanoj@northjersey.com 

Twitter: @justinctoscano