The bullpen door opened and a surprise occurred.
That was Mets relief pitcher Jose Butt. But why now?
The Mets held a 10-point lead.
It was a strange situation for Carlos Mendoza to use one of his most trusted pitchers.
There was a reason for that.
“That was a decision we had to make,” the manager said Monday after the Mets’ 15-2 victory over the Twins at Citi Field. “We saw this as an opportunity to somehow rest him and give our relief pitchers some hits. He did a great job. He went out there and threw strikes and was able to close out the game.”
“I thought it was important to get some more pitches in. We’ll see what happens here.” [at the trade deadline].”
Bhutto pitched the final three innings of that big win, throwing 44 pitches and putting himself in position to start in the near future if the Mets don’t add another starting pitcher between now and Tuesday’s trade deadline at 6 p.m.
There was another factor at work.
The Mets relief corps was thin on the ground Monday with four pitchers out due to recent changes, but Butt, who has started seven times for the Mets this season, allowed the rest of the relief corps to rest.
But with injuries to Christian Scott and Kodai Senga, the more pressing question is the final spot in the starting rotation, which is currently held by Tyler Megill with a 5.20 ERA.
That may not last long, the situation is fluid.
That could be someone Chairman David Stearns acquires in a trade, maybe a bat, but Mendoza doesn’t think that’s going to happen anytime soon.
“That doesn’t necessarily have to be the case next time we’re in the rotation,” the manager said, “but if we need him to start somehow, I’d be comfortable with him throwing about 70 pitches.”
Butt was a great relief pitcher.
He allowed two earned runs and seven hits in 16 2/3 innings, walking six and striking out 19 batters.
He has repeatedly stated that it doesn’t matter how he is used by the Mets, as long as there is a role.
He repeated that on Monday.
“If a team wants me as a starter, [I’ll] “I want to go out there and be a starter. I just want to be here and help this team,” he said. “I’ve been a starter my whole career. But like I said before, if they need a starter, I’ll be a starter. If they need me in the bullpen, I’ll be in the bullpen. I’m happy and grateful to be here.”
