Even though the Mets need six starters with the return of All-Star Kodai Senga on Friday night, manager Carlos Mendoza has refused to include Jose Butt, who has suddenly become a weapon in the bullpen, in the starting rotation.
Thursday night’s close 3-2 win over the Braves was the latest example of why.
Bhutto struck out all nine batters he faced, including a runner with runners on first and second that he inherited from starter Luis Severino in the sixth inning, and then struck out four more in three innings to keep the score tied at 2-2.
“We owe the win to him tonight. He did a great job,” Severino said after the 10th-inning walk-off win. “He’s just unbelievable. I can’t understand how a starting pitcher can be so good as a relief pitcher.”
Of course, Severino faced that issue early in his Yankees career, calling his transition to relief pitching “the worst.”
The season-altering move didn’t bother Butt, 26, who has left all six runners he’s taken over in seven relief appearances since being recalled from Triple-A Syracuse and assigned to a bullpen role since July 2.
The right-hander has a 0.68 ERA in 13 2/3 innings during that span, with his lone earned run coming in his last appearance on the mound against the Marlins on Monday.
After Severino allowed a walk and two singles to tie the game in the top of the sixth, the bats struck out Eddie Rosario and Nacho Alvarez Jr. before getting Ramon Laureano to fly out.
Butt handed the ball to Edwin Diaz in the ninth inning, who also recorded the next six outs.
“Bhutto was really good out there,” Mendoza said. “I think the biggest thing for me is his ability to slow the game down, especially when it’s crowded, and just being aware of where he is in the game, who the batters are, staying behind in the count.”
“He continues to pitch well, he continues to attack, he continues to be aggressive in the counts and the situations aren’t too big for him.”
Still, Mendoza announced before the game that Tyler Megill would replace injured rookie Christian Scott in the starting rotation on Saturday, the day after Senga made his expected first start of the season.
Bhutto, who appeared in seven games as a starter earlier this season and proved to be a competent pitcher, will remain a multi-inning reliever for the time being.
“I feel really good right now, I’m really confident,” Bhutto said. “I’m mentally prepared and I just want to win. Win, win, win, that’s how I feel right now.”
“enjoy [relieving] I’ve been studying a lot. I’m trying to attack batters, get outs quickly, and do my job.”
