Paul Articulates - The pen is mightier

With a little more than a week left in spring training camp, decisions are looming on who wears the MLB uniform and who works on their game in the minors.  There is plenty of pitching on the roster right now, and some of the decisions will be tough.  Let’s take a look at who is there and what they bring.

Current starters on the 40-man roster:

Clay Holmes – Already named the SP1 and pitching well in the spring.  Go get it, Clay.  You are the star of the spring!

David Peterson – Great consistency this spring, can he maintain it?  It would be great for the Mets if he can.  He is a lock as a starter in April.

Kodai Senga – Senga should be the Ace.  He is not SP1 and maybe not even SP2.  What is holding him back, physical issues or fear?  He has given up 9 hits and two ER in 5 innings so far.  This is a pitcher that the Mets really need to perform at the top of his game.  There has been speculation for a couple years now that the Mets will protect him with a six man rotation, but with the current injury picture and Blackburn pitching poorly, that would be a rough way to start.

Tylor Megill – OK, throw out his last game and he’s still pitching well.

Griffin Canning – Canning has a shot at the SP5 slot with the current injuries.  Let’s hope he makes the most of it.  So far this spring he has, with a 0.90 ERA and a 0.80 WHIP in 10 innings over three appearances.  That’s not enough to project similar performance, but I’ll take it over bad stats in 10 innings.

Paul Blackburn – Blackburn has not impressed this spring, but with two arms down he is six of six.

There are 10 relievers currently on the 40-man roster.  With a 5-man rotation there is room for eight, and with a 6-man rotation there is room for seven.

Edwin Diaz – No doubter – this is our closer, through thick and thin.

AJ Minter – AJ is a lock for late inning relief.

Reed Garrett – Reed is a lock for late inning relief.

Jose Butto – Still nursing a groin injury but expected to be ready for opening day.  If so, he is a lock for the pen.

Dedniel Nunez – He has been late to recover, but is now considered healthy and pitched on Monday.  If he shows like last year, he has got to make the team.

Ryne Stanek – Ryne showed what he can do last year – he will show more this year.

Max Kranick – Max is a contender for the final spot with Brazoban and Young.

Huascar Brazoban – He has promising stuff, but if there are only seven in the bullpen, he is in a battle to make it.  He is throwing well, but not as well as Kranick.

Danny Young – Not one of the top seven or eight in terms of performance, but aside from Minter he would be the only other lefty reliever.  Do the Mets need two to start?

Tyler Zuber – My guess is that he will begin the year at Syracuse

Currently injured:

Sean Manaea – He is throwing again, and his injury may not be too serious.  We know the Mets will be cautious with him, but he is needed.

Frankie Montas – April showers bring Montas back in May.

Christian Scott – It was surprising that he is throwing so soon after surgery, but don’t count on Scott in the rotation this year.

Drew Smith – We are glad to have him back, but he also will not take the mound in 2025.

Already assigned to the minors:

Justin Hagenman - Best of the three sent down, but needs work.

Kevin Herget - Has some work to do.  ERA over 6.

Austin Warren - Has some work to do.  ERA over 6.

So there are the choices – the key decisions are whether to go with a five or six man rotation to start and who to stock the pen with.  Given the choices, I would go with a five-man rotation and an eight man pen because given the current injury picture, the options in the bullpen are superior to the options for starters.  I would much rather see a Kranick and/or Brazoban coming out of the pen than see Blackburn starting every week.  Your thoughts?