Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

David Robertson has finally reached Queens.

Roberson has killed the Mets out of the pen for years. In 25 games against and 111 plate appearances, the Mets’ offense has responded with a .175/.270/.258 slash line with 39 strikeouts. No longer will they be tortured by Robertson’s cutter or excellent curveball. Now they’ll get a chance to see it shut down opposing teams.

Robertson and the Mets agreed to a one-year, $10 million deal last week. The signing has flown a bit under the radar with New York making splash move after splash move this winter but Robertson will play an important role as the Mets setup man next season.

Now 37 years old, the right-hander remains one of the top relievers in the game. A stellar 2022 with the Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies set him up to continue his 14-year career.

Last season, Robertson pitched in 58 games for the two teams. He owned a 2.40 ERA in 63.2 innings pitched while striking out 81 batters. He also gained 20 saves.

Robertson on the Mets will fill the role left by a flurry of relievers. Seth Lugo, Adam Ottavino, and Trevor May remain on the market but reports haven’t shown the Mets have much interest in bringing them back right now, especially Lugo.

Robertson will give them a proper setup man and a closer when Edwin Diaz is unavailable. Robertson closed games for years with the Yankees and White Sox.

The righty is having a career resurgence. In 2019 he appeared in seven games, in 2020 he didn’t pitch at all, and in 2021 he appeared in 12 games. Why didn’t he pitch? Robertson underwent Tommy John surgery forcing him to miss all that time.

But now he’s back and fully healthy. The Mets have already taken a risk with an older player coming back from Tommy John surgery with Justin Verlander but he also just won the Cy Young. Robertson was excellent in his first full season back as well, although he wasn’t perfect after injuring his calf while celebrating a Bryce Harper home run in the playoffs.

Last season, Robertson was incredible according to expected stats. He was in the 97th percentile in xBA (.176), and 91st percentile in xSLG (.302).

Robertson has incredible swing-and-miss stuff, ranking in the 90th percentile in K% (30.7) and in the 90th percentile in Whiff% (20.8% cutter, 44.4% curveball, 38.2% slider).

Robertson is able to generate these misses due to top spin rates on his pitches. He’s in the 99th percentile of fastball spin and 75th percentile in curve spin. All three of his pitches recorded negative run values last season. A trend that was there prior to his injury.

Robertson’s curveball ranked 13th in baseball by run value/100 pitches (min. 25 plate appearances). It’s higher than any current Met and Lugo who was known for his devastating curveball.

Against Robertson’s best pitch, batters hit .093 with a .213 slugging percentage and struck out 49.4% of the time on it.

Robertson will be incredibly important to closing out the final innings of Mets games this year. While not the same discount Ottavino was last year, he’ll provide the same value.

The post David Robertson Is the Mets New Eighth Inning Man appeared first on Metsmerized.

Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Mets (93-55) entered Sunday afternoon at Citi Field looking for the four-game sweep over the Pittsburgh Pirates (55-92). With their ace, Jacob deGrom on the mound, the Mets relied on a four-run eighth inning to clinch the desired four-game sweep via a 7-3 victory. The offense, thanks to the eighth inning explosion, was able to compile 12 hits. Meanwhile, Mets’ pitchers combined to tie the major-league record for the most strikeouts in a nine-inning game (20). An all-around terrific effort.

The Mets struck first right out of the gate. During a Brandon Nimmo infield single, the ball was tossed into the dugout allowing Nimmo to reach second. He then came home after a Jeff McNeil RBI single. In the same frame, Pete Alonso was hit by a pitch. That was the fifth time a Met was hit by a pitch in the past game plus. Alonso let Oviedo know that he was not happy and the benches cleared briefly. Order was restored and the Mets led 1-0 after the first inning.

Mets-Pirates Benches clearing… pic.twitter.com/ZgHQLWB2hp

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) September 18, 2022

New York struck for two more in the second inning. The bases were loaded thanks to singles by Nimmo and Tomás Nido, Luis Guillorme also walked. Following that, McNeil then drew a walk of his own, Oviedo’s third of the game, and Alonso grounded into a fielder’s choice. When it was all said and done, the Mets pushed across two more runs and led 3-0 after two innings.

Jacob deGrom was sensational for the game’s first five innings. He tallied 13 strikeouts and only allowed one hit through these five frames. Unfortunately, when he was closing in on the 100-pitch mark in the sixth inning, he tired. After two singles, Oneil Cruz took him deep. This not only tied the game at three, but it also ended deGrom’s now so-so looking outing. His final line: 5.0 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 13 SO. He threw 101 pitches.

Though, despite the blemish to his afternoon, deGrom was able to set another major-league record. Sunday’s outing was the 40th straight in which he allowed three runs or less (record dating back to 1913, when earned runs became an official statistic).

Mandatory Credit: Jessica Alcheh-USA TODAY Sports

Joely Rodríguez entered in the seventh and pitched two tremendous innings to keep the ballgame tied. He threw 25 pitches and struck out five of the six hitters he faced. Just a superb outing for the left-handed reliever who has posted five scoreless outings in his last six appearances.

The game was a 3-3 stalemate until the bottom of the eighth inning. Nido singled to center and was pinch ran for with Terrance Gore. Gore used his electrifying speed to do what he does best, make things happen on the base paths. He stole second and went to third base on an errant throw. Nimmo then drove him home via a single to the outfield.

Daniel Vogelbach singled later in the inning with the bases loaded to bring home two more runs. Then, Eduardo Escobar grounded into a fielder’s choice to score the Mets’ seventh and final run of the game. Trevor May came in the ninth with a 7-3 lead and pitched a scoreless frame.

Worth noting, the Mets struck out 20 Pirates’ hitters in the game, this tied the major-league record (nine-inning game). Terrific performances by the offense and the pitching to help the Mets clinch a four-game sweep.

Despite the win, the Mets’ division lead still stands at a single game. That due to the Atlanta Braves completing their own sweep, three games, over the Philadelphia Phillies earlier this afternoon. Atlanta welcomes in Washington for a three-game set next.

Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

Player of the Game: Brandon Nimmo

Nimmo has been walking a ton recently, as he saw his on-base percentage climb to .358. In Sunday afternoon’s game, he did way more than just walk, as he had three hits and delivered the go-ahead run in the eighth inning. In total, he went 3-for-5 with two runs and a RBI.

Others that deserve some recognition are Rodríguez (2.0 IP, 5 SO), McNeil (2-for-2, 2 RBI), and Vogelbach (2-for-4, 2 RBI). There were several different key contributors in the victory.

On Deck

Next up for the Mets is one of their two remaining opponents that have a record above .500, the Milwaukee Brewers (78-68). Game one of three, at American Family Field, is slated for a 7:40 P.M. ET first pitch Monday night. The probable pitching matchup is a terrific one, as Max Scherzer faces off against Corbin Burnes.

The post Mets Win 7-3, Clinch Four-Game Sweep Over Pittsburgh appeared first on Metsmerized.