Getting high-leverage outs has been tough enough for the New York Mets. But navigating the other seven innings has been the real grind.

With a rotation riddled by injuries — Kodai Senga, Frankie Montas, Griffin Canning, and Sean Manaea all missing time — the Mets’ bullpen has been asked to do far too much. The result? A relief staff that’s stretched thin, trying to clean up after an underperforming, incomplete rotation.

There was a stretch in June that looked eerily familiar, almost a sequel to the 2023 unraveling. But, lately, the Mets have started to claw out of it. They’ve taken three of their last four series, relying on patchwork pitching and just enough from the arms that matter. The back-to-back wins this weekend? Those had Senga and Montas written on them.

Mandatory Credit: Peter Aiken-Imagn Images

Since David Peterson’s complete game on June 11, the Mets have had a starter record an out in the sixth inning just four times — all by Peterson.

That trend didn’t break during Saturday’s 3–1 win over Kansas City. Frankie Montas was pulled after surrendering back-to-back doubles in the sixth, but not before delivering his most encouraging outing as a Met. Over five innings, the former Brewers right-handed starter allowed one run on four hits, striking out five without issuing a walk. It wasn’t a quality start on paper, but it was exactly the kind of outing New York needed. Reed Garrett cleaned up the sixth, and the bullpen held from there.

Almost.

Edwin Díaz flirted with trouble in the eighth but escaped thanks to a favorable replay review. Even so, he’s been lights out since April. Since April 22, Díaz, who will be representing the Mets at the 2025 All-Star Game in Atlanta, has allowed just one earned run in 28 1/3 innings. Over that stretch he has 40 strikeouts, seven walks, 13 hits, and 13 saves, including Saturday’s six-out effort. He’s back to pounding the zone, commanding his stuff, and missing bats with purpose.

Montas doesn’t need to be an ace. Díaz doesn’t need to be perfect. But if the Mets can get five clean innings from their starters and Díaz keeps locking down leads, they might finally have a formula that holds. It’s not ideal — the formula could use a little more length — but it sure works better than whatever New York had been running with since Senga went down with a hamstring injury.