Mets’ Bullpen Steps Up Amid Injuries

When you’ve got exemption wire, does a transaction deadline really matter?

The Mets experienced another solid outing from their relief pitchers, who have been stretched thin due to injuries and heavy use. They faced challenging winds while navigating changes that affected their bullpen.

On Tuesday, Frankie Montas pitched 5²/₃ innings to lead the Mets to a 3-2 win over the Angels at Citi Field. However, the bullpen was called upon to pitch crucial innings once again, marking their second consecutive game in this role.

Everyone in baseball, particularly David Stearns, the president of baseball operations, understands the need for teams to upgrade in this area. The Mets, surprisingly, are finding contributions from unexpected sources.

A noteworthy performance came from right-hander Rico Garcia, who delivered a scoreless inning despite bouncing back and forth between the Mets and the Yankees throughout the day.

“We certainly had a lot of trips,” Garcia reflected. “I’m just trying to find my role and help wherever I can.”

Any team.

Garcia had been on assignment when the Mets were in Kansas City and returned home to Hawaii for the All-Star break.

Claimed by the Yankees on Monday, he flew to Atlanta on Wednesday and pitched against the Yankees there on Friday. His only rough outing with the Yankees was regrettably interrupted, and he flew back to New York on Monday, getting refreshed for Tuesday’s game.

“You just have to push through it,” he said about the hectic schedule. “You can’t dwell on excuses. They want results, plain and simple. I’ll do what I can.”

The 31-year-old managed to close out the sixth inning, getting Lois Rengifo to ground into a force out with two outs and runners on base.

He also faced Nolan Chanuel, allowing a single and a wild pitch as he navigated challenges with batters like Zach Neto and Mike Trout before handing things off to Reid Garrett to finish the inning.

Ryne Stanek also pitched on consecutive days before closing the game out, even with Edwin Díaz unavailable.

Garcia’s clutch performance was pivotal as the team looked to strengthen their roster ahead of the July 31 trading deadline. His six innings of one-run ball were crucial, especially after Kodai Senga only lasted three innings in Monday’s victory.

Later that evening, Carlos Mendoza turned to Kevin Herget, who had just arrived after stepping in for Senga. The right-hander managed to deliver a 2¹/₃ inning shutout before Chris Devenski took over for the seventh.

After the game, Herget was sent back to the minors, while Devenski was designated for assignment.

For a Mets team desperate for a victory, their bullpen provided valuable innings as they awaited reinforcements.

“The guys keep stepping up when the opportunity arises,” Mendoza noted. “It’s significant to have back-to-back performances like this.”

“I’m just prepared,” Garcia added.