Tom Brennan - METS' BULLPEN AND THEIR HELPFUL APRIL SCHEDULE

I think all of us wish, going into the season, that the bullpen were more “lockdown” in quality and quantity.  

Some look at it top to bottom and wonder if it will perform like the pen of a true contender should.

But the Mets have an ace in the hole regarding their bullpen in April.

Namely, 5 off days were scheduled - 25 games in 30 days.  Any rain outs, or Nat King Cole COVID, quite possibly less than 25 games.

The Mets have 5 starters - going every fifth day - theoretically, with 5 starters, they could go a whole season without a day off.

In April, though, they have 5 (now more) days off.

They could virtually go with a 6 man rotation in all of April, given the off days.  They won't - you can count on Jake, Stro, and Walker, the current Big Three, going every 5th day. 

What I think then is likely is that David Peterson and/or Joey Lucchesi could get some time in April working in relief situations.  Arms like that would help bolster that "questionable" pen.

By May, maybe early May, the Mets have Lugo back (assuming he starts throwing very soon).  Assuming he comes back healthy, the pen gets better.

Carrasco?  I'll guess at a mid-May return.  Into the rotation he goes, someone in the rotation gets bumped to the bullpen.  

The pen gets better.

Syndergaard?  Let's guess a mid-June return. Into the rotation he goes, someone else in the rotation gets bumped to the bullpen. 

The pen gets better.

So the Mets have a light April schedule (in terms of # of games) to help bridge the eventual day 1 bullpen to the arrival of the aforesaid reinforcements in May and June.

The bullpen may be a question mark, but based on the above, it certainly seems like it could well be an effectively manageable situation.  

Turning a large font question mark (?) into a small one (?).

Thoughts? Might the pen turn out to be mightier than the sword?