Rick Porcello started the month of August on such a high note, yielding just one run across seven innings pitched against the Washington Nationals. After another quality start his next time out, it appeared Porcello had turned the corner.
Unfortunately maybe that was not the case after all.
Porcello closed out the month of August with two lackluster performances, as all the hits he has given up have started to catch up with him. Through six starts this year, Porcello has given up 40 hits in just 28 innings pitched.
The 31-year-old took the mound for the first game of a double-header against the Marlins on Tuesday, with the Mets hoping to get length out of their veteran starter.
In the first inning, Porcello got off to a great start, striking out the first two batters he faced. He then induce a pop out to finish out the 1-2-3 opening frame. Then in the second inning, it was as if a different pitcher took the mound.
Porcello suddenly lost command of his pitches and was leaving everything up in the zone. Brian Anderson hit a lead-off double, which came off the bat with an exit velocity of 103.8 mph. Porcello then got Lewin Diaz to line-out, although he did hit a scorcher with an exit velo of 96.3 mph that landed in Brandon Nimmo‘s glove.
Jorge Alfaro was the next Marlin due up and Porcello plunked him with a sinker that didn’t have much sink. Porcello almost escaped the jam as he got a pop up to record the second out, but the Marlins would rally from there.
Porcello’s first offering to Lewin Brinson (who is hitting under the Mendoza line in his career) was right down the middle and Brinson deposited it into left field for a single. Then veteran shortstop Miguel Rojas worked a deep count before singling himself to drive in two more runs, as Miami put up a three-spot in the second.
In the third inning, Porcello recorded two more strikeouts but couldn’t make it out of the frame unscathed. Anderson hit his second double of the game and scored on a basehit by Diaz.
The baseball Gods opened the skies after that third inning, graciously sending Porcello to the showers as an hour-long rain delay ended his night.
In his place, Corey Oswalt gave the Mets four outstanding innings of relief, covering the remainder of the seven-inning game. Oswalt exhibited great command of his pitches, working the bottom half of the zone effectively.
Oswalt retired 12 of the 14 batters he faced, giving up one hit with a walk and four strikeouts. Over Oswalt’s last two outings he has lowered his season ERA from 11.25 down to 5.11. His performance should warrant consideration for the starting rotation moving forward.
Meanwhile Porcello did not inspire much confidence with this outing, as he continues to struggle to find his footing in Queens. After the game he spoke to his frustration about the lack of consistency thus far.
“It’s always frustrating when you go out there and you’re not giving your team a chance to win every fifth day consistently. I don’t necessarily feel like I’m not back on track or anything like that. I feel like I am doing a lot of good things compared to how I threw the ball last year. Conversely, I’m not getting consistent, quality results and that’s something that I got to be better with.” Porcello said.
Taking another loss Tuesday, Porcello is now 1-4 on the season, with a 6.43 ERA. More concerning than his ERA, Porcello’s 1.64 WHIP would be the worst mark of his career.
