Starting To Need

By: Mike Rifkin

In the third inning of Wednesday’s loss to the Astros Mets starter Carlos Carrasco exited with what the team called lower back tightness. Another blow to a rotation that is already without Jacob DeGrom, Tylor Megill and Max Scherzer who might be back Sunday. But Carrasco’s 2.1 innings comes a day after Trevor Williams only gave the team four innings. 

Scherzer is coming off an oblique injury and might be back this weekend against the Marlins. DeGrom faced live hitters in Port St.Lucie on Tuesday, but will definitely need multiple rehab starts, Megill is on the injured list with a strained shoulder, it is his second stint on the injured list so far this season. Carrasco, Taijuan Walker and Chris Bassitt have held it down.What David Peterson and Williams have given this team has been nothing short of awesome but the Mets need to go get a starting pitcher to help the rotation. 

This doesn’t have to be a sexy name like Luis Castillo or Tyler Mahle of the Reds or Frankie Montas of the Athletics. It just has to be someone who can help eat innings and when DeGrom comes back could be someone who piggy backs him in starts if the team were to limit his innings or workload. One name to consider is Zack Grienke of the Royals. Grienke is 0-4 with an ERA of 5.05 but the Royals aren’t good and Grienke could come cheap. Greinke has pitched in big moments with the Dodgers and Astros over the years. He can come in and eat innings and in the playoffs could be someone who pitches out of the bullpen. Another veteran that might come cheap is Jose Quintana of the Pirates. Quintana is 1-4 with a 3.66 ERA and could give the Mets another lefty and if the Mets want to make a bigger deal with the Pirates they can make the deal center around David Bednar the Pirates closer, but that will cost the Mets more. If they are looking for a guy with some term Merrill Kelly of the Diamondbacks is owed 8.5 million dollars over the next two years with a option at seven million after that. Kelly is 6-4 with a 3.46 ERA. 

Whether it’s one of these smaller names or one of the bigger names the Mets need to add to this rotation. While the news has been positive on DeGrom who knows what they are going to get out of him. Oblique and back injuries like Scherzer and Carrasco have are very tricky and can sneak back up on them. One thing is for certain for as well as the Mets have played in the first half they need to add to this rotation by the trade deadline.