As the Mets join the rest of the league’s thirty teams at the starting blocks, they’re waiting to see whether a key arm will be with them from the jump. Starter Marcus Stroman has experienced calf tightness that could prevent him from taking his anticipated turn in the rotation, MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo was among those to report on Twitter.
The Mets haven’t yet committed to a decision on Stroman, with skipper Luis Rojas indicating that the righty is considered day to day at the moment. Even if Stroman is held back a bit, the team may wish not to place him on the 15-day injured list. That’d mean missing nearly a quarter of the truncated season.
Stroman is of central importance to a Mets staff that will go without Zack Wheeler (free agency) and Noah Syndergaard (Tommy John surgery) in 2020. There’s still plenty of talent in the rotation mix, but the loss of those two prominent righties has cast Stroman in an even brighter light.
Last year, Stroman turned in 184 1/3 innings of 3.22 ERA pitching over 32 starts, the final eleven of which came following a trade to his native New York. If he can provide anything close to that kind of output in 2020 — or, at least, match the 3.77 ERA he posted with the Mets — then Stroman could help put the club over the edge in what’s likely to be a closely fought postseason race. He’s also pitching to set himself up for his first trip onto the open market at season’s end.
It doesn’t sound as if there’s any reason for major concern here. But the situation highlights the delicate balance that teams will face. On the one hand, the Mets will want to get Stroman on the mound as soon as possible in order to maximize his impact. On the other hand, pushing too hard and suffering a setback could easily wipe out much of the campaign.
It’ll be interesting to see how the Mets end up handling pitching assignments if Stroman is kept on ice for a bit. With Walker Lockett already sidelined, the team could turn to an alternative such as Corey Oswalt. It might also seek to utilize Oswalt, Erasmo Ramirez, Stephen Gonsalves, and/or other starter-capable pitchers in some kind of piggyback arrangement. Most intriguing, perhaps, is the idea of bumping prospect David Peterson, though that would mean starting his service clock and clearing a 40-man roster spot.
Ugh. Mets already have 6 injuries.
Brach
Stroman
Hudges
Lowrie
Thor
Gsellman
Wouldn’t have help then anyways. They should have blown it up and rebuilt
Why would a team where most of their young players are good blow it up? Regardless of how they finish this year. You don’t blow it up with the core they have. They have one of the best young cores
metsfan? Every team has six guys out. This is a big ol’ world.
Correct. It’s just more detrimental to the Mets because they don’t have the organizational depth to ride it out. That is especially true in a season like this one where players might be running in and out of quarantine. This is why the Mets face an uphill climb to make the playoffs. They don’t have the depth of some other teams.
That’s true. Mets 25 man roster is a WS candidate. But our 40 man is a borderline playoff team. So Mets have to hope to stay relatively healthy all year, but if they make the playoffs with their best 25 they could definitely beat the “powerhouses” to win the WS.
Probably not this year tho since Thor got hurt
They have players like Thor stroman gsellman and lowrie Hurt??? Who? I’m not counting covid all teams going to deal with that.
They’re long overdue after being relatively healthy the last few years, but still this stinks. Wishing them all a speedy recovery.
I think lack of depth may a problem for them this year.
2016 17 and 18 they where hurt a lot. Only healthy last year. And they still had players hurt and playing hurt
Yeah. I mean every team has players hurt. Last year though the Braves and Phillies in particular were devastated with injuries. The Braves depth is a big reason why they won the division. The Phillies lack of depth is why they plummeted around the halfway point of the season.
With Thor out (and Wheeler gone), the Mets depth will be tested right form the start. We’ll see if they can still live up to their expectations.
Marcus Stroman has a calf tear
Please let Peterson start if Stroman can’t
Peterson is going to be good. But he isn’t ready yet
Perhaps Stroman is not the breadwinner we thought he was.
Because… he got hurt?
He could be half baked. I don’t believe the Mets can sandwich in another injury and still win; any more personnel losses and they will be toast.
Captain Dunsel, well done sir.
Lowrie ? When did the Mets get him? I thought he retired.
Jed lowrie. They got him last offseason.
Stroman hurt his calf by constantly standing on his tip-toes – little man syndrome. Jays are better off without this circus.
He was tweeting angrily seconds before the injury.
Just for the record, there is currently no 15-day IL – the original plan was to institute one for pitchers this season (while the 10-day list would remain for position players), but that was scrapped because of the shortened season and it’s 10 days for everyone.
Height can’t measure Stroman’s ERA
not funny didn’t laugh
Bump him down in the order, and or Skip his first turn if it’s that’s serious.
Obvious solution is obvious.
Let Lugo get the start