Seth Lugo has not only been the Mets best reliever over the last couple of seasons, but one of the better ones in Major League Baseball. He has been moved to the starting rotation beginning with his start on Thursday against the Marlins.
That leaves a gaping hole in the Mets already questionable bullpen.
Edwin Diaz struck out four on Wednesday in the Mets in 5-3 win over the Marlins, though he also walked in the game-tying run in the eighth inning. Diaz has been mostly good in 2020, he has a 2.53 ERA in 10 2/3 innings and has allowed only one earned run in 8 1/3 innings this month. He’s also struck out 24 batters and only given up one home run.
The slider from Diaz has looked much better recently and his overall command has shown great improvements as well. With Lugo now in the rotation, it’s likely we see Diaz pitch in high leverage spots on a consistent basis.
There’s certainly risk with Diaz, but he’s probably the Mets best option right now for big innings. I would expect them to sprinkle in lefty Justin Wilson and Jeurys Familia late in games as well. The veteran Wilson has been good in 2020 outside of one rough outing, but Familia has been inconsistent despite showing better stuff than in 2019.
Then there’s the trio of right-handers of Jared Hughes, Drew Smith, and Brad Brach. Hughes has been the best of the group with a 1.80 ERA in 10 innings, Brad has given up one run in four innings, and Smith has a 3.00 ERA and 0.83 WHIP in six innings. All three could see a bump in responsibility with Lugo no longer in the pen.
Chasen Shreve has quietly been one of the Mets best relievers in 2020 after being scooped up on a minor league deal. The left-hander has a 3.09 ERA and 17 strikeouts in 11 2/3 innings. He’s been used as a guy to eat up multiple innings for manager Luis Rojas. He’s pitched at least two innings in five of his six appearances this season.
Enter Steven Matz.
The left-hander was removed from the rotation after giving up 23 earned runs in 23 innings over his first five starts of the season. Matz finds himself as the potential long-man in the pen and I wouldn’t be surprised if we see him pitch on Thursday night after Lugo.
Rojas certainly has his hands full, a rotation held together by chewed gum and toothpicks, and an already shaky bullpen now without it’s best pitcher.
