From June 22 to August 3. Detroit’s rookie right-hander Michael Fulmer had five quality starts while winning seven consecutive starts. With the Mets swooning and Yoenis Cespedes dealing with injury, it was an opportune time for some media outlets to write about the young starter Mets GM Sandy Alderson gave up for the slugging left fielder.
Trade deadline stories, like one by Zach Braziller of the New York Post, quoted Alderson who was commenting on the state of Mets trade assets. “We did trade like 11 or 12 pitchers last year so we don’t have that inventory.”
That might lead the average fan to believe the minor league crop of arms was depleted, and with the Mets announced they would be relying upon several rookie pitchers to face the Cardinals and Marlins, it didn’t instill much confidence in how the Mets would fare in two very critical series.
Adam Rubin of ESPN New York tweeted last night: “The Mets are getting by without their primary pitchers,” and that is true, but it started before Terry Collins lined up Robert Gsellman, Rafael Montero and Seth Lugo to toe the rubber over the past three days. You have to go back to August 25 when they turned to Jon Niese in St. Louis.
When the lefty, who’s best result in 2016 was producing Neil Walker via a preseason trade, went down via injury, the minors to the majors mound movement began. And the results have been much better than what anyone could have imagined.
| Pitcher | Innings | Hits | Runs (Earned Runs) | Strikeouts | Walks | |
|
8/23 – Mets 7, Cardinals 4 |
Gsellman (1-0) | 3.2 | 2 | 0 (0) | 2 |
3 |
|
8/25 – Mets 10, Cardinals 6 |
Lugo (1-2) | 5.0 | 2 | 0 (0) | 5 | 3 |
|
8/28 – Phillies 5, Mets 1 |
Gsellman (1-1) |
6.0 | 7 | 4 (4) | 5 | 1 |
| 8/29 – Mets 2, Marlins 1 | Montero | 5.0 | 2 | 0 (0) | 3 |
6 |
| 8/30 –Mets 7, Miami 4 | Lugo (2-2) | 6.0 | 5 | 2 (2) | 4 |
1 |
This doesn’t include Josh Smoker, who’s last three outings on consecutive days has produced six strikeouts and just one hit in three innings. So maybe the Mets’ minor league system isn’t so starved and depleted as many have said, despite all the trades from last year and this season, including trading pitcher Akeel Morris for Kelly Johnson.
Gsellman, Lugo and Montero have each stepped up at a critical junction of the season for the Mets who are fighting for their chance at another postseason.
“It’s been very interesting to see,” Curtis Granderson said about the three Mets youngsters who stepped into some big shoes and exceeded expectations. “Obviously injuries are going to be a part of it, and unfortunately, we’ve had quite a bit of them. But, these guys have been doing a great job.”
