Could things have been different with a healthy José Quintana?
The Mets score three runs or less for their seventh straight game and lose again. Plus, how José Quintana is a bright spot heading into 2024.
What’s Up with the Mets? ⚾️
The Mets lost to the Rangers for the second consecutive night, this time by a 2-1 score (box)
LHP José Quintana pitched six strong innings once again, allowing no runs and just three hits with five strikeouts
Quintana has a 3.26 ERA in his first eight starts with the Mets since returning from the injured list
DH Mark Vientos went 2-for-4 with a home run (3) in the loss
Vientos became just the second player to ever hit a home run against Aroldis Chapman on an 0-2 count (MMO)
RHPs Drew Smith and Phil Bickford allowed two runs over 2.1 innings of relief
New York’s offense went 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position and has scored three runs or less in seven straight games
Rival executives aren’t universally convinced the Mets will get rid of Pete Alonso (MLB.com)
Prospect Watch 🔎
⬆️ C Kevin Parada (No. 5 prospect) promoted to Double-A Binghamton
2B Ronny Mauricio (No. 4 prospect, Triple-A): 3-for-5, HR (23), 2 RBI, 2 runs scored
3B Brett Baty (Triple-A): 0-for-5, 3 Ks
RHP Justin Jarvis (No. 15 prospect, Triple-A): 3 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 3 K
Today’s Game 🗓
Match-up: Mets (60-73) vs. Rangers (75-57)
Where: Citi Field — Flushing, NY
Starting pitchers: RHP Denyi Reyes (0-2, 7.50 ERA) vs. RHP Dane Dunning (9-6, 3.36 ERA)
When: 6:40 PM EDT
Where to Watch: SNY, MLB Network
Finally healthy, José Quintana offers hope for 2024 ✍️
In the recent weeks of watching José Quintana on the mound, I’ve wondered if things would have played out any differently if the Mets had him earlier this season.
It’s hard to project the ripple effects that losing one individual player can have, especially in baseball and when it’s a middle-of-the-rotation starter. With that said, New York’s rotation was a mess early this season and a key factor in the club’s sluggish start.
Missing both Quintana, who broke a rib in a freak Spring Training injury and Justin Verlander, who was placed on the injured list just hours before Opening Day, the Mets had to rely on Tylor Megill and David Peterson to make regular starts throughout the early part of the year.
In his first eight starts of the season, stretching into mid-May, Peterson was pitching to an 8.08 ERA and a 4.78 FIP while opposing hitters had an incredible .936 OPS against him. For context, Bryce Harper has an .899 OPS this season. So, for a month and a half, a pitcher who was never meant to be in the club’s rotation was performing as the worst starting pitcher in all of baseball.
Things went similarly poorly for Megill, who lasted about a month longer than Peterson in the rotation. In his first 15 starts this season, Megill pitched to a 5.17 ERA and a 5.09 FIP while opposing hitters had an .803 OPS against him.
In their first stints filling in for Quintana and Verlander combined, the duo of Peterson and Megill pitched to a 6.20 ERA, and were a large factor in the season falling off the rails.
Now juxtapose that to what Quintana has done for this team since coming off the injured list and making his team debut on July 20th. His performance has largely gone under the radar as the front office threw in the towel not long after his debut, and not to mention that he’s getting some of the worst run support we’ve seen all year. But for all intents and purposes, Quintana has given the Mets exactly what they expected from him when they signed him to a two-year deal last winter.
In his first eight starts with the club, Quintana is pitching to a 3.26 ERA and a 3.33 FIP while allowing just one home run and holding opposing hitters to a .646 OPS. He has thrown strikes and given the Mets at least six quality innings in all-but one appearance, something the team could have desperately used earlier this year.
And while it’s easy to wonder what could have been, there is also something to look forward to from this. As I stated earlier, the Mets signed Quintana to a two-year deal, after all, so the implications for a 2024 rotation that already has a lot of holes to fill are quite good.
Now that it appears that the Mets are getting the exact version of Quintana they always envisioned, and another year with a more seasoned Kodai Senga (who has already been one of baseball’s best pitchers as a rookie), this team now has two staples in their rotation for next year that they can rely on.
Don’t get me wrong, this team has a lot of work to do to rebuild this rotation to get them to a competitive place for next season. But with Senga and now Quintana showing their worth, they’re at least off to a good head start.
Around the League 🚩
Giants RHP Alex Cobb came one out away from a no-hitter before allowing an RBI double in the club’s 6-1 win over the Reds
Dodgers LHP Clayton Kershaw recorded the 209th victory of his career, tying him with Don Drysdale for 2nd most in franchise history, in LA’s 9-1 win vs the Dbacks
The Mariners lost while the Astros and Rangers both won, resulting in a three-way tie atop the AL West
Cubs RHP Justin Steele shut down the Brewers over six innings and ended Milwaukee’s nine-game winning streak