The Mets’ strong July has been due to the performance of their starting rotation pitchers.
Five pitchers — Luis Severino, Jose Quintana, David Peterson, Christian Scott and Sean Manaea — have been in good form recently, posting a combined 2.79 ERA in 12 starts this month with 24 walks and 50 strikeouts in 74 ⅓ innings pitched.
Manaea continued his strong pitching, holding the Rockies to three earned runs and striking out nine in seven innings in a 7-6 Mets victory.
“[I like] “The way he attacks hitters and gets a lead, and the ability to get back in the count when he’s down, and especially the ability to keep pitching when he needs to in a pinch,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “I’ve seen that with a lot of guys, but the biggest thing is the ability to keep attacking when he’s in a pinch, keep pitching and pitch five, six innings consistently.”
All five rotation members are doing their jobs well.
Scott has the highest ERA at 4.15, while Peterson has the lowest at 3.09.
As Mendoza mentioned, they are giving the Mets plenty of time on the mound.
The last time a Mets starter failed to get past the fifth inning was Quintana on June 28.
Mendoza became the first Mets manager to be ejected in the seventh inning.
Jose Iglesias was called out on a 3-2 pitch that looked high.
Iglesias was upset by the call and Mendoza defended him, but home plate umpire Jeremy Rehak ejected him.
“There were just a couple of calls where I thought the ball was in the zone,” Mendoza said. “I thought the last one was an out. Listen, I know that. [the umpires] It’s a tough job. … I just felt the need to express my frustration there.”
Mendoza said pitcher Sean Reid-Foley is scheduled to throw bullpen balls on Saturday.
The right-handed relief pitcher is expected to return soon after the All-Star break.
“He’s trending in a good direction,” Mendoza said of Reid Foley, who has been out since June 22 with a right shoulder injury.
The Mets placed Peterson on the paternity list and recalled left-handed relief pitcher Eric Ause from Triple-A Syracuse.
Mendoza said right-handed relief pitchers Brice Montes de Oca and Shintaro Fujinami remain options in the relief department.
Both are on rehab assignments with Triple-A Syracuse.
The Mets are 24-10 since June 2nd.
Their 24 wins during this period were tied with the Astros for the most wins in major league baseball, and their winning percentage was 0.697.
