The Mets tabbed Robert Gsellman to take the start Wednesday night against Washington, to fill the void created by Michael Wacha‘s trip to the injured list. The Mets chose Gsellman over their other options, including Walker Lockett, Franklyn Kilome, and other relievers who could have served in the “opener” role.
Gsellman made his first start since September of 2017. As noted here on MMO, Gsellman started 22 games in 2017, during which he posted an ERA of 5.29. Gsellman had missed almost a full calendar year of action, having gone on the IL with right triceps tendinitis in August of 2019, then beginning this season on the IL with the same condition.
Gsellman made his first appearance of 2020 in relief on Saturday night, tossing a scoreless inning with two strikeouts. He was scheduled to throw between 45 and 60 pitches in his start, but ended up with 33 pitches (striking out one), due primarily to his struggles in the first inning. Trea Turner led off with a double, and after an infield single by Adam Eaton, Juan Soto launched a mammoth home run beyond the Coca Cola Corner with one out to give the Nationals an instant 3-0 lead.
Gsellman, who had issues with location of his pitches (to be expected due to his limited work over the past year) settled down to retire the side in order in the top of the second inning, before yielding to Chasen Shreve to begin the third inning. The Mets’ bats finally awakened, putting up 11 runs to overcome Gsellman’s rocky start and lead New York to an 11-6 victory.
Before the game, Luis Rojas said that Gsellman was not a one-and-done starter. The plan is to have Gsellman continue starting, stretching him out in the process by getting him used to throwing more pitches. It would appear that the Mets may be planning for Gsellman to be in the rotation for a while, which calls into question the severity of Wacha’s shoulder inflammation.
There was discussion during the pre-game show that Gsellman has developed a new pitch, a one-seam fastball. The intent is for the one-seam fastball to replace his two-seam fastball, to get more pure sink on the pitch. This comes from the advice of pitching coach Jeremy Hefner.
At least for this game against the Nationals, Gsellman’s one-seam fastball was not a difference maker. The Mets will need all of his pitches to be more effective as he occupies one of the five starting spots, at least for the time being.
