Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized
The Mets’ bullpen came up big on Thursday night in what was their first regular season game without Edwin Diaz.
Max Scherzer gave the Mets six quality innings on Opening Day in Miami vs. the Marlins, but the question was who would follow him out of the pen and would they be successful in holding the Mets’ two-run lead.
After giving up the three runs in the sixth, Scherzer exited the game with the score tied 3-3. The Mets came up big in the top of the seventh and scored two runs to give the Mets a 5-3 lead over the Marlins. With Scherzer in a position to potentially earn the win, Buck Showalter turned the game over to the bullpen to get the last nine outs of the game. It was the first chance for the Mets bullpen to show they can still get the job done without their star closer.
Pitchers Drew Smith, Brooks Raley, and David Robertson combined for six strikeouts in a near-perfect three innings of work. They did not give up any runs.
Smith came in behind Scherzer to pitch the seventh. He threw 18 pitches (10 for strikes), gave up just one hit, but retired the other three he faced, including two strikeouts. The right-hander gave up a leadoff double before bearing down to get the next three hitters in a row to keep the Mets lead at 5-3.
“We know it’s going to be a group effort all year long. Hopefully, the load doesn’t go to one guy all the time and we can spread it around and keep everyone healthy,” Smith said.
The eighth inning was turned over to Raley who was making his Mets debut after spending 2022 with the Tampa Bay Rays. He threw 12 pitches (9 strikes) and struck out two. He did not allow a baserunner.
When asked about getting his first outing with a new team out of the way, Raley expressed how it’s his fourth year with his fourth different team so he’s accustomed to being in that position, but he said he has enjoyed his time with the Mets so far and that opening day was a good start.
“Getting off to a good start is always a great thing,” Railey said. “Max set the tone, it was a good Opening Day for sure.”
Showalter then turned the ball over to the veteran David Robertson to close it out. Robertson was also making his Mets debut after spending 2022 with the Cubs and Phillies. Robertson continued the bullpen’s stellar performance with a scoreless ninth inning. He threw 16 pitches (9 strikes), struck out two and earned the save for the Mets to solidify Scherzer’s first win of the season.
When asked about his role with the Mets and being asked to come in and close it out in the ninth, Robertson said his job is to always be ready.
“When the phone rings, it could be me. Late inning, high leverage situations, I’m always ready to go,” Robertson said.
Showalter has always shown trust in his team and in his players, but not having Diaz is certainly a worry for the Mets. But, at least on Opening Day, those concerns and worries were quieted as the bullpen stood strong and closed out the game giving up just one hit and no runs.
