NEED MORE

BY MIKE RIFKIN

One of the things I thought the Mets needed at the trade deadline was another starting pitcher. There are a few reasons why they did need a starter, the biggest being the rotation as is has been ineffective. Outside of David Peterson no Met starter has gotten out of the sixth inning and they are taxing the bullpen. Right now the Mets are clinging to a half game lead over the Reds for the last wild card spot. 

One of the reasons Mets fans were excited entering the second half was they were getting both Sean Manea and Kodai Senga back from injury. But those results have been not been good, Manea has an ERA of 5.15 and Senga has an ERA of 6.00 over his last six starts. Senga’s first 14 starts he had an ERA of 1.39. The Mets staff in the first half was great with reclamation projects Griffin Canning and Clay Holmes. But Holmes is looks tired as he has a career high in innings and Canning tore his Achilles. Had David Stearns acquired a starter, they could move Holmes to the bullpen for the stretch run, instead he acquired a couple relievers to solidify the pen.The Mets have called up prospect Nolan McLean, who was great in his first start. Brandon Sproat and Jonah Tong are in Triple A and probably close to a call up. But let’s look at the National League as a whole. In Philadelphia, the Phillies lost Zack Wheeler (who hopefully has a safe recovery), but they are able to withstand it because Christopher Sanchez and Jesus Luzardo have been fantastic. The Dodgers’ rotation has been able to withstand a ton of injuries as well. Both those teams have top of the rotation arms, the Mets have a need for an ace. So whether it’s a trade for Sandy Alcantara or signing a guy like Dylan Cease, Zac Gallen or Framber Valdez the Mets need a proven guy at the top of the rotation in 2026, especially if 2025 doesn’t pan out their way.