TORONTO —Jon Niese’s short outing hurt the Mets last night, and it could continue to affect the club for days to come.
Niese allowed eight runs in last night’s 14-5 loss to the Blue Jays and lasted just three innings. It was the shortest of several recent short starts from the rotation — Mets starters have only pitched seven or more innings in three of 16 games in May. Niese has both of the shortest outings in that stretch, also lasting three innings in a start against the Astros on May 1.
The rotation’s recent inability to go deep into games stands out given the Mets are only eight games through a stretch of 20 consecutive games before their next scheduled off-day. It puts even more pressure on a bullpen that has already been called into action more often than manager Terry Collins would have preferred.
”Our bullpen has pitched very well, and [pitched] a lot this year,” Collins said. “It’s a concern because you can wear them out early and we’re going to need them throughout the season.”
In an ideal situation, Collins would probably have left Niese in a bit longer just for the sake of eating innings, but felt he needed to remove the left-hander since it was clear Niese didn’t have his best stuff.
“I had to do it,” Collins said. “His pitch count was getting up there and I was just making sure we could get him prepared for his next start.”
Manny Acosta, Ramon Ramirez, rookie Robert Carson and (of all people) catcher Rob Johnson pitched the remaining five innings for the Mets, with Acosta allowing five runs and Ramirez one more.
After last night’s performance, the Mets’ bullpen ERA stands at 5.24, better than only the Phillies (5.34) among major league teams.
The Mets have some reinforcements on the way but not in the immediate future. Jenrry Mejia is on a minor league rehab assignment as he recovers from Tommy John surgery and is expected get some work out of the bullpen at Triple-A Buffalo. Right-hander Pedro Beato is recovering from a shoulder injury and is on the 60-day disabled list retroactive to March 26, making him eligible to return in about a week’s time.
Carson was making his major league debut last night, and allowed one walk in a scoreless inning. The left-hander was called up from Double-A Binghamton after D.J. Carrasco was designated for assignment Thursday.
Johnson made the first pitching appearance of his six-year professional career, moving to the mound after catching the first seven innings. He pitched a perfect eighth inning, retiring all three batters and even recording a strikeout of Blue Jays left fielder Eric Thames.
The Mets would count it as a bonus if they could get at least seven innings from either of their scheduled starters for the remainder of the this series. Converted reliever Miguel Batista is set to start today, having thrown seven shutout innings in his last start Monday against the Brewers. Dillon Gee, tomorrow’s starter, has lasted at least 5 1/3 innings in all seven of his starts this season, but the right-hander has struggled to the tune of a 5.65 ERA.