Following up on our previous 2024 Mets Positional Profiles that looked at the Infield and Outfield/DH, let’s finish the preview sections and take a look at the Pitching Staff. The Mets’ Staff is symbolic of the changing expectations for this club year over year.  On the surface, the starting staff is solid, it’s balanced, and it’s experienced.  However, coming off a 2023 season that began with Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander on the roster, along with Kodai Senga as a hyped international free agent slotting in as the #3 starter (he begins 2024 injured, which we’ll talk more about below), this is different.  Scherzer and Verlander are gone, with Scherzer admiring his new World Series ring with the Rangers, and Verlander on a World Series contender in Houston.  The Mets bullpen will get back the best Closer in the game, with a balanced set of other arms to help with eating innings.  If Spring Training performance is any indication of the regular season, the Mets staff is in great shape as they lead the league in Spring Training ERA. 

Let’s first look at the projected starting rotation for Opening Day.  There was a lot of discussion in the offseason about signing Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and that obviously didn’t happen.  What it did show is that for the right player Steve Cohen is still willing to spend despite luxury tax implications.  (As an aside, Yamamoto’s first MLB start lasted 1 inning and he gave up 5 earned runs so while it’s still early for Yamamoto, the Mets might have dodged a bullet).  Here’s how the rotation lines up for now:

Jose Quintana (Left-Handed Pitcher, LHP): Again, not who anyone would have expected to toe the rubber on opening day for a team with the highest payroll in the major leagues. Quintana made only 13 starts in 2023, pitching to a 3.57 ERA and a 1.308 WHIP. His experience as a well-traveled veteran will help as he navigates as the defacto #1 starter to begin the year.  

Luis Severino (Right-Handed Pitcher, RHP): Some Yankees fans laugh at the Severino and Bader moves as the Mets getting their scraps, but at a 1-year contract for $13 million there is low risk and potentially high reward for Severino’s deal.  The familiarity that Carlos Mendoza has with Sevy from being together with the Yankees should assist in the transition as well.  If he can regain his All-Star form from back in 2017-2018, the Mets will be ecstatic. His stats in Spring have been phenomenal, pitching 9.0 innings and giving up only 1 ER and 5 hits.  

Sean Manaea (Left-Handed Pitcher, LHP): Manaea is a newcomer to the Mets and the rotation in 2024. After spending last season with the San Francisco Giants, Manaea signed a two-year contract with the Mets in the offseason. While his haircut and new clean-shaven look for the first time in a few years makes you wonder if he knows which NY team he joined, here’s hoping it is a sign of a new successful beginning in Queens.  He’ll fit in well with the team as another solid rotation piece on a not overly-restrictive contract.    

Adrian Houser (Right-Handed Pitcher, RHP): As the new President of the Mets, David Stearns brought Houser (and Tyrone Taylor, for that matter) from the Brewers in a trade in the offseason. Houser should be able to eat some innings and lock down one of the spots on the back end of the Mets rotation. A career 4.00 ERA pitcher, those numbers have been a bit elevated the past few years, as he had a 4.12 ERA with a 1.392 WHIP in 2023. As a fourth starter, that’s not too bad.

Tylor Megill (Right-Handed Pitcher, RHP): The only homegrown Mets talent in the rotation to start the year, I expect that Megill will become more of a fan favorite in Flushing this year. The Mets Opening Day starter in 2022, Megill started 25 games in 2023 and pitched to a 4.70 ERA with a 1.575 WHIP. Megill earned his spot in the rotation to start the season by beating out Jose Butto who was sent to the Minors.  Whether he stays in the rotation all season remains to be seen, but he’ll always be revered by Mets fans as the starter that combined with four relievers on a no-hitter in 2022.

Starting Pitching Reinforcements: The only guarantee for the rotation (and bullpen for that matter) is change. The rotation on Opening Day will surely look different throughout the year and by the end of the season. Kodai Senga, after a solid rookie campaign with the Mets (2nd place in NL Rookie of the Year voting), was in line to be the ace until a Posterior Capsule Strain sidelined him in Spring Training. Here’s hoping for a speedy recovery and return to the top spot in the rotation. Jose Butto has MLB experience but was recently sent to the Minors. He will likely be back up on the Mets roster soon. Joey Lucchesi and his Churve are also there if needed. David Peterson is still recovering from hip surgery, and it remains to be seen what type of impact he’ll have on the Mets this year. Some youngsters that have impressed and are worth keeping an eye on include Christian Scott, Mike Vasil and Dom Hamel.  

Bullpen: Cue the trumpets. Edwin Diaz (RHP) is set to make his return after a fluke injury in the World Baseball Classic sidelined him for the entire 2023 campaign. Diaz has proven to be the best closer in the game, and was rewarded with a massive contract before last season. His return to dominance will be important to this team, especially if they expect to compete for the playoffs down the stretch. After Diaz, there will be some moving pieces throughout the season. Adam Ottavino (RHP) is back on a reasonable 1-year contract and can be an emergency closer again if needed. Drew Smith (RHP) is coming off a somewhat shaky 2023 season but will look to establish himself within the bullpen. Brooks Raley (LHP) provides setup ability as a left-hander. I expect Michael Tonkin (RHP) and Sean Reid-Foley (RHP) to earn spots in the bullpen coming off strong Springs. Jake Diekman (LHP) and Jorge Lopez (RHP) round out my expected bullpen to start the season. Shintaro Fujinami wouid be a reinforcement that can see the big league mound this year, but will need to fix the control issues that have plagued him. Phil Bickford is also someone to watch within the bullpen finalization and musical chairs.

The 2024 Mets Pitching Staff is one that I would call steady but not overly exciting.  There is good experience, there is good (and needed) depth, and there is good versatility. However, the sting of losing both Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander from last year’s staff is still there, and it will take time (and winning) for it to go away.  

That wraps up the 2024 Mets Positional Profiles. Opening Day is about a week away, and a new season is upon us. As always, Let’s Go Mets!

Stats by baseball-reference.com

By : Jason Krom

Photo Credit: Yahoo Sports, New York Post, New York Daily News,

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