It was yet another frustrating déjà vu moment for the Mets.
For the second consecutive day, they found themselves chasing the Diamondbacks.
Carlos Mendoza made the choice to rely on Chris Devensky for two innings and then Reed Garrett for two as well. However, these decisions didn’t pan out.
In Garrett’s latest outing, he gave up a homer that allowed the Diamondbacks to extend their lead during the Mets’ 4-2 loss at Citi Field.
There was a chance for a rally in the final inning with a runner on base.
Mendoza stated that Edwin Diaz, the All-Star closer who had been warmed up earlier in the week, is healthy. Still, it seems he’s being overly cautious when it comes to managing his bullpen’s key player.
Diaz is currently among the league leaders in innings pitched this season.
“He’s good,” Mendoza said about Diaz. “He was ready [on Wednesday]. If the situation was right [on Thursday], he would have come into the game.”
The Mets are facing a tightly packed schedule—26 games in 27 days, with 13 straight games—but despite the warm-up sessions, Diaz has not seen action in the last two contests.
Mendoza opted to stick with Devensky, who pitched in his first game against the Mets before heading back to Triple-A Syracuse. He allowed a leadoff walk and some sacrifice hits along the way.
Mendoza noted that using Diaz in this situation would have been straightforward in previous months, but the Mets are playing the long game, hoping for better opportunities that just didn’t materialize.
The day after, Mendoza faced a similar setback with Diaz again, as Tawa hit a homer to put the Diamondbacks ahead, capitalizing on Garrett’s struggles.
In the last two games, the Mets couldn’t find a way to score.
The only runs on Thursday came from a couple of solo homers by Juan Soto.
Before the game, Mendoza mentioned the Mets would be calling up a sixth starter for their series against the Cardinals.
As part of the corresponding roster moves, RHP Ty Adcock and LHP Genesis Cabrera were promoted, each contributing solid innings.
Instead of going to Triple-A, RHP Jose Ureña opted for free agency.
Brett Baty was taken out of the Triple-A Syracuse lineup on Thursday, although sources suggested this had no connection to a potential call-up to the Mets.
