Mets shuffle rotation with periodic bullpen games: ‘This was something that we discussed over the weekend’

The bullpen has been a strength for the Mets this season, while the rotation has been mostly in a state of disarray. The solution appears to be periodic bullpen games.

Late Tuesday night, the club announced right-hander Austin Warren as the starter for Wednesday’s game against the St. Louis Cardinals. It was Christian Scott‘s turn in the rotation, but the Mets moved the right-hander to Thursday to give the rotation an extra day of rest. That lines up right-hander Nolan McLean to throw against the Atlanta Braves on Friday night as the Mets open their first series of the season against the NL East leaders.

“This was something that we discussed over the weekend,” manager Carlos Mendoza said Wednesday at Citi Field. “I don’t know if I think it got out that Scotty was pitching today, but the Cardinals knew the plan that we were going bulk and game today, Scotty tomorrow, and then Nolan.”

The St. Louis series marked the start of a stretch that will see the Mets play 22 games in 23 days. The Mets have only one day off the rest of the month, receiving one next week after the start of the series in Philadelphia to allow for a World Cup match at Lincoln Financial Field. They won’t have another off day until July 2 between series in Toronto and Atlanta.

Looking at the calendar, the Mets felt their starters could use the benefit of an extra day off.

However, the Mets just played a bullpen game Sunday in San Diego, using Huascar Brazobán in front of left-hander Sean Manaea. They did the same thing a week ago in Seattle with Jonah Tong. It hasn’t been the most sustainable system, despite having two bulk relievers in Manaea and left-hander David Peterson.

This bullpen game appears to be a way to get Peterson some work. Since being taken out of the rotation for the second time this season, Peterson has pitched once, earning a four-inning save May 31 against the Miami Marlins, ahead of the team’s last road trip. Going nine days without pitching in a game isn’t ideal, but it’s how they have to piece together their pitching plans without a full rotation.

“That’s the one thing that we talked about, but he’s been touching the mound [and] throwing aggressive sides [sessions],” Mendoza said. “We don’t see that as an issue, and he’s a guy that we want to use because he’s important for this team.”

Of course, they could use Peterson or Manaea in the rotation, but the team appears hesitant to do that. Peterson has been better in a relief role this season with an ERA under 2.00 in six appearances out of the bullpen, and an ERA just over 7.50 in seven starts. Manaea stretched out as a starter in spring training, but hasn’t thrown more than 74 pitches in an outing since the season began.

The big league bullpen is currently without right-hander Tobias Myers, who was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse recently. The Mets have the long reliever on a schedule in Triple-A to maintain his pitch count. Right-hander Kodai Senga isn’t any closer to a return to the rotation, especially since he was scratched from his latest start in Double-A Binghamton on Tuesday. He’s currently in New York being evaluated by the team and playing catch, but Mendoza said he’s feeling better.

Having a high-leverage reliever getting out opposing teams’ best hitters before handing the ball over to Peterson or Manaea is what the Mets think is best. It’s a way to insulate their struggling starters, and their openers, Brazobán and Warren, have been good in just about any role they’ve been asked to play.

Still, with only three starters outside of those two, one of them may have to go back into the rotation to be able to give the Mets a full bullpen.