DENVER — Adam Ottavino has seen the Mets’ relief corps undergo some ups and downs this season, mostly due to injuries but also due to veteran pitchers being released due to poor performance.
And at times, Ottavino thought he might be next.
“I thought it might happen, but at the same time, it’s something you can’t control,” Ottavino said before the Mets’ 5-3 win over the Rockies on Wednesday at Coors Field. “I wasn’t too worried about it. For me, my assessment is that for the most part I’m throwing the ball the way I want to, so I just have to accept the results.”
The Mets will need roster space with the impending returns of relievers Reid Garrett and Sean Reid-Foley.
When asked if he thought he might be shut out by the Mets, Ottavino was blunt.
“I think it would be foolish to fire me,” he said.
The right-hander has not allowed a run in six consecutive games and has also not allowed a run in eight of nine games.
Overall this season, he appeared in 43 games with a 4.35 ERA.
Most of his struggles came in May, when the Mets’ entire relief corps was falling apart.
Ottavino posted a 9.28 ERA in May, but has dropped below 4.00 in each subsequent month.
Along the way, Ottavino’s role changed.
The 38-year-old has rarely been used in a key position, remaining in the bullpen behind pitchers like Jose Butto, Phil Maton and newly acquired Huascar Brazovan.
Ottavino dealt with that.
“I knew it would happen at some point,” Ottavino said. “It’s not easy to do that job forever. At some point you’re going to struggle. It was my turn to struggle a little bit. I just want to contribute where I can.”
What has Ottavino been most pleased with in his recent work?
“That’s just my mindset,” Ottavino said, “Just staying professional, not worrying about doing the wrong thing, not causing trouble for the team, and just staying on the side of everybody there, and personally, I’m just going to stick with that.”
Ottavino’s rotation included multiple inning appearances and being used in a matchup role at various points.
He managed to hang on while veterans like Jorge Lopez, Adrian Houser and Jake Diekman were released from the team.
Several metrics are working in Ottavino’s favor, including his average exit ball velocity of 86.4 mph, which ranks in the 93rd percentile in MLB, according to Statcast.
Ottavino also has a strikeout rate of 30.3 percent, which ranks in the 91st percentile.
“He’s been great, especially after struggling at the start of the year,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. [mph] “I got the ball from him the other day in Anaheim, so he’s throwing the ball well. He’s attacking hitters, he’s using all his pitches, so that’s good.”
Edwin Diaz is the only other relief pitcher other than Ottavino to have started the season for the Mets.
In addition to the disappointing performance that led to other players leaving the team, the bullpen was plagued by injuries.
Ottavino is encouraged by the deals the front office made before the trade deadline to acquire relief pitchers Ryne Stanek, Maton and Brazovan.
“All of the guys they’ve acquired have pitched well,” Ottavino said. “Stanek and Phil both have pretty good track records. They’ve added a lot. And then I think Brazovan is probably a diamond in the rough… This was a big addition for us that probably went under the radar, but I think it’s going to be a really good addition for us, not just this year but going forward.”
