Chiga Finds New Role in the Bullpen

ATLANTA — It seems that Kodai Chiga’s issues as a starting pitcher aren’t carrying over to his new role in the bullpen.

While it’s still early to formally evaluate his success as a reliever, Chiga’s recent strong performances, particularly in Friday’s game, are giving fans and the Mets some hope amidst a challenging season.

After giving up just one earned run in 2 2/3 innings against the Braves, Chiga, speaking through an interpreter, reflected, “The preparation is different.” He continued, “We don’t have much of a rhythm, but the job is the same. We’ll do our best, zero after zero, and try to contribute to the victory.”

His previous outing was against the Phillies, where he pitched five innings and allowed two earned runs. So, recently, he’s shown some signs of life.

Yet, despite these glimmers of hope, Chiga’s ERA still stands at a staggering 8.66 this season, which sheds light on his struggles as a starter.

For Chiga, who is under contract through next season, this is perhaps his last opportunity to prove he belongs in the Major Leagues.

“One thing that’s different is it’s simpler,” he mentioned. “I don’t go into each starting line thinking about what kind of pitch I can throw and where I can throw it to each batter. Now, as a reliever, I just focus on the data provided by the team and go out there to pitch,” Chiga explained.

The Mets might see the bullpen as a way to facilitate his improvement and eventually reinstate him in the starting rotation, similar to the path taken by Sean Manaea earlier this season.

Or they might consider him more suited for his current role and decide to keep him there.

Chiga has the potential to be a valuable high-leverage relief pitcher, capable of stepping in to provide solid defensive support when necessary.

“He’s been throwing the ball really well,” interim manager Andy Green noted. “The first few innings on Friday showcased an electric fastball and effective off-speed pitches. Sure, he gave up a few home runs, but overall, you have to like what you see. He can handle a critical inning, and he proved that by giving us three strong innings when we needed it.”

A year ago around this time, Chiga was recovering from a hamstring injury after spending a month on the disabled list.

At that point, he had a commendable 1.47 ERA and was seen as a likely ace for the Mets’ rotation.

However, after returning from the injured list, he faced struggles and was eventually sent to pitch in Triple-A Syracuse for the last month of the season.

This year, he started strong but faced health issues in April, leading to a stint on the IL for lumbar spondylitis.

His return in June was rough, resulting in a brief, disappointing stint that saw him shifted to a relief role.

Will Chiga embrace a permanent spot in the bullpen? He seems ready for any role, stating, “It doesn’t matter where you throw it. When I’m given the ball, I’m going to pitch. I’ve started some games this year, but haven’t had much success, so it doesn’t matter if I start in the second, third, eighth, or ninth inning. No matter the situation, I’m here to help the club.”