While the Mets have not much left to play for as the 2023 MLB regular season comes to a close, there’s an evaluation period that comes with these final games. Fair or not, they give New York a better glimpse of who should be a part of next season’s roster. It’s happened with the Baby Mets—but the rotation pieces have had a say, too.
The only two players that are locked into next year’s rotation are Cy Young hopeful Kodai Senga and José Quintana. But, over the past month or so, the likes of David Peterson, Tylor Megill and José Butto have given the Mets something to think about at the very least, as the trio of starters has received an extended look.
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Ultimately new president of baseball operations David Stearns will have a say if any of these players will be slotted into the rotation. But even if they aren’t written solidly into the 2024 plans, they could provide some valuable depth, which is essentially what they were expected to do in 2023. But Peterson and Megill have turned in their worst major league seasons to date, while Butto has spent the majority of his season at Triple-A Syracuse.
However, dating back to last month, all three pitchers have started to put those struggles behind them and aim to finish a rather forgettable season on a high note.
David Peterson
Starting with Peterson, since his start against the Atlanta Braves on Aug. 21, he’s pitched to a 4.61 ERA in 27.1 innings (five starts) with 34 strikeouts and eight walks. While his walks are significantly down, hitters are slashing .284/.345/.440 over the same period. Since returning to the majors on June 27, though, Peterson has a 3.31 ERA across 61 innings, which includes 11 starts and six relief appearances.
Over Peterson’s past three starts, he has 22 strikeouts compared to only three walks, which is certainly a positive trend and a step in the right direction at that. Peterson has shown flashes, including his most recent start, in which he allowed just three runs (two earned) on six hits and had 10 strikeouts against two walks in 5.2 innings.
Tylor Megill
It’s been a similar story for Megill in terms of the ability to pitch deep into games, but since Aug. 22, he’s looked like a different pitcher. Yes, the Mets would love for him to pitch more than five innings every time out, but they’ll take what he’s given them over the past month or so.
Megll has pitched to a 3.04 ERA in 26.2 innings (five starts) with 23 strikeouts and 11 walks. He’s also allowed five home runs during that same span, as opposing hitters are slashing .274/.348/.443. So while he hasn’t been perfect, he’s been much more competitive in starts than he had been in the earlier half of 2023, even if he has a 5.32 FIP over his last five outings.
Now, the Mets are asking for trouble if they think Peterson and Megill can be viable rotation pieces and slot in right next to Quintana and Senga, but the results as of late point to them being more competent depth pieces than anything. Perhaps the lack of eaten innings will force the Mets to give each of them an extended look out of the bullpen. It’s something they’ve flirted with in the past, but neither has spent a good chunk of their time in the majors as a reliever.
José Butto
As for Butto, he’s been the best of the three.
Over his last three starts, Butto has pitched to a 2.08 ERA in 17.1 innings, allowing four runs on 12 hits with 19 strikeouts against five walks. Those numbers are considerably impressive when considering that he had 14 walks across his previous four outings in the big leagues.
The Minor Leaguers
When talking about New York’s depth in the rotation, it would be shortsighted not to mention Mike Vasil, who has risen New York’s minor league ranks and arguably been one of the best pitchers in the system this season.
In his last start with Triple-A Syracuse, Vasil allowed two runs on three hits in six innings pitched, striking out 10 while walking two. Vasil pitched into the seventh inning, and the reliever who replaced him allowed booth runners he inherited to score. New York’s best pitching prospect at Triple-A has consistently put together the results at both Double-A Binghamton and now Syracuse.
While he hasn’t received a look at the major league level, he’s certainly thrown his hat in the ring, as far as depth for next year’s rotation is concerned.
On top of Vasil, the team has top pitching prospects Christian Scott, Dominic Hamel, Blade Tidwell, Tyler Stuart, and Joander Suarez all pitching at Double-A Binghamtom—and most of these players will likely start next season at Triple-A.
The Mets Have Depth—But They Need to Sign Front-Line Starters
At the very least, the Mets have strapped themselves with some viable pitching depth, regardless of what the team does in the offseason to address its rotation needs. Come spring training time, it’ll be interesting to see the competition between Peterson, Megill, Butto, Vasil, and the other pitching prospects what positions New York will have them competing for.
While it’s certainly a possibility that many of them could be in Syrcause’s rotation come Opening Day, they give the Mets the option to be flexible, which is something they weren’t exactly provided with this season.
