With the Mets winners of seven of their last 11, the offense and starting pitching continue to roll. In the series against the Nationals, all three starters – José Quintana, Luis Severino, and David Peterson – threw quality starts, with Quintana and Peterson not giving up a run. Peterson’s start was the first Mets’ shutout of 2024, which seems impossible, but is true. With Christian Scott and Sean Manaea also looking good as of late, the rotation, especially with Kodai Senga on the horizon, has never looked better in 2024.
Offensively, the charge has been led by snubbed non-All-Star Brandon Nimmo. Since the start of the month, Nimmo has three home runs – hit on consecutive days – three stolen bases, and seems to be in the middle of everything the Mets are doing, offensively. Even with a slumping J.D. Martinez, the Mets haven’t slowed down, with Mark Vientos, Francisco Alvarez, and Jose Iglesias all continuing to contribute alongside the more established, marquee names.
Jeff McNeil has looked marginally better. So that’s a thing?
But even with the offense and starting pitching on point, the bullpen woes continue for the Mets. On Tuesday’s game against the Nationals, Adam Ottavino gave up two runs in a third of an inning and Reed Garrett got rocked for three runs before hitting the Injured List. Wednesday’s game was clean, bullpen wise, but the ‘pen tried all it could to blow Thursday’s shutout, somehow failing in the process.
Newest Met Phil Maton looked excellent in his Queens debut, but the returning Danny Young got into trouble and needed Dedniel Nuñez to bail him out of a sloppy eighth inning. Ottavino then got himself into serious trouble, allowing a hit, a walk, and a hit batsman to load the bases. Edwin Díaz had to get up with a seven run lead, but Otto eventually retired the Rockies.
José Buttó has been working in relief this week with positive results, which could be a boon for the bullpen, even if he has earned another shot at the rotation. With the parade of relievers marching on, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the relief corps get a serious upgrade between now and the trade deadline.
The Rockies have gone five and six in July thus far, but are one of the four or five teams that have no legitimate shot at the playoffs this season, even with the expanded bracket. They’ve been dealing with injuries to some of their key players, but they’ve also seen some really disappointing performances from folks like Kris Bryant and Jordan Beck.
Unlike the Mets, May was the highlight of the Rockies’ season, where they went on a seven game winning streak and looked to be turning the year around. But after winning just seven games in June, the season’s direction was abundantly clear. This current stretch has actually been one of the brighter spells for Colorado, but the Mets hope to dim that light going into the All-Star Break.
Friday, July 12: Sean Manaea vs Tanner Gordon at 7:10 PM EDT on SNY
Manaea (2024): 89.1 IP, 87 K, 39 BB, 7 HR, 3.43 ERA, 3.69 FIP, 88 ERA-
Manaea’s last month has been, essentially, an optimistic pre-season prediction of the type of starts you’d get from Manaea at this point in his career: averaging just under six innings a start, not walking many, and keeping runs off the board. He pitched a great game against the Pirates last weekend where he went six, allowed no earned runs on two hits and three walks, with six strikeouts over 89 pitches.
Gordon (2024): 6.1 IP, 4 K, 0 BB, 2 HR, 7.11 ERA, 6.02 FIP, 150 ERA-
Gordon made his MLB debut on Sunday (that’s good!) and gave up five earned runs (that’s bad!) but didn’t allow a walk (that’s good!). While he is still likely a minors piece that is just filling time until German Marquez returns, Gordon handled himself well enough in his first start to warrant at least one more.
Saturday, July 13: Christian Scott vs Ryan Feltner at 4:10 PM EDT on SNY
Scott (2024): 39.0 IP, 30 K, 9 BB, 5 HR, 4.15 ERA, 4.07 FIP, 106 ERA-
Since rejoining the rotation earlier this month after a month plus in Triple-A, Scott has picked up right where he left off. In Monday’s start against the Pirates, Scott was pitching on a strict pitch count, and was holding his own against the Buccos before being pulled. Once he wasn’t in the game, the bullpen shat the bed and fans all over the Tri-State Area were hollering at their television set. With the proposed six-man rotation starting when Kodai Senga returns later this month, Scott shouldn’t be as limited in his pitch count due to lessened innings thrown, which is a good thing for everyone involved.
Feltner (2024): 98.2 IP, 84 K, 28 BB, 12 HR, 5.29 ERA, 4.03 FIP, 112 ERA-
Feltner, in his first full season as a starter in the Majors, has settled in as of late. In his last three starts against the Astros, Brewers, and Reds, Feltner has lowered his ERA by eight tenths of a point, limiting the damage effectively, even if he’s still walking too many batters.
Saturday, July 13: José Quintana vs Cal Quantrill at 1:40 PM EDT on SNY
Quintana (2024): 96.2 IP, 71 K, 33 BB, 13 HR, 3.91 ERA, 4.73 FIP, 100 ERA-
Quintana’s last two starts have been among his best as a Met, with a two dominant performances against the Nationals. The veteran lefty hasn’t allowed more than two earned runs in a start since June 2 and, like so many of the Mets, has really upped his game since a dreadful May. With a glut of starting pitching only getting more crowded when Senga returns, Quintana is making a bid to be moved at the deadline without the Mets selling overall.
Quantrill (2024): 102.1 IP, 78 K, 39 BB, 14 HR, 4.13 ERA, 4.78 FIP, 88 ERA-
Quantrill has been a bright spot for the Rockies his season, already putting up 2.5 bWAR on the year after having a rough April. However, he got shellacked in his last start against the Reds, giving up two home runs and five runs total in just two innings pitched. That start pushed Quantrill’s ERA above four for the first time since May 3rd.
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