A review of the latest turn through the Mets starting rotation:
|
Name |
InningsThe |
Hits |
Runs (Earned Runs) |
Strikeouts |
Walks |
ERA (Season) |
WHIP (Season) |
Quality Start? |
|
Matt Harvey (3-5) |
5.2 |
11 |
5(5) |
6 |
0 |
4.93 |
1.53 |
No (8/3) |
|
Logan Verrett (3-1) |
2.2 |
10 |
7(7) |
0 |
3 |
3.75 |
1.54 |
No (3/2) |
|
Jacob deGrom (3-1) |
6.1 |
4 |
3(3) |
3 |
3 |
2.50 |
1.19 |
Yes (6/4) |
|
Noah Syndergaard (4-2) |
7.0 |
5 |
0(0) |
10 |
0 |
2.19 |
0.99 |
Yes (8/7) |
|
Bartolo Colon (3-2) |
4.2 | 5 |
3(3) |
4 | 5 |
3.75 |
1.25 |
No (7/3) |
Best Start: This week, this is obvious and easy. Noah Syndergaard came out throwing 100 MPH with a 93 MPH slider that looks like a fastball…except for the late movement. He was dominant in the opener against the Nationals, his seventh quality start out of the eight times he’s walked onto the mound.
The one time Thor didn’t go at least six innings allowing three runs or less, Terry Collins pulled him in the top of the sixth against the San Francisco Giants. With two on and two out, Hansel Robles allowed a single to Hunter Pence and the fourth run came home. Since then, Syndergaard has pitched 21 innings, walked three, allowed four runs and struck out 21.
Anthony DiComo of MLB.com recently did an Inbox column and addressed which of these young starters is the FO likely to ink to a long-term deal. I’m in complete agreement that with the injury history of Steven Matz and Matt Harvey‘s early-season struggles, it’s unlikely they’ll look to sign either.
What shocked me was not that Jacob deGrom is 27 years old, it’s that he won’t become a free agent until he turns 32. Therefore, any deal with him would be an appeasement for time served, maybe including his first year of free agency. But it also would likely be a lot lower than the annual salary of the Orchid, Steven Strasburg.
But even when it comes to that, Thor is pre-arbitration until 2018. That means the Mets can pay him whatever they want. I think the best route would be something that sounds long, like six years at $12-$15 million per. Something that takes Syndergaard up to free agency, but something financially friendly for the team.
Worst Start: I previously stated I wanted to see Logan Verrett get a start in Colorado, but didn’t think about the fact that he wasn’t ready to go from starter to relief to starter and come with the same quality he had previously been throwing.
Best of the Bullpen: If you go by ERA before Wednesday night’s game and the horrific seventh inning (8 Nationals come to the plate, two runs allowed on just one hit), the Mets are the best when the outfield door opens up. John Harper of the Daily News recently picked them as the fourth best in all of baseball. But it was great to see Addison Reed throw a clean eighth inning on Tuesday.
Reed has been off to a great start, leading the team with eight holds. Here’s hoping he can keep it over the summer.
Next Big Thing: This couldn’t be easier. This is likely the biggest start for Harvey in 2016, although a potential rematch of Wednesday night’s Colon vs. Gonzalez might be noteworthy since the Mets can’t seem to hit the lefty.
