Taking a look ahead at the Mets rotation construction...

Could the Mets trade a starter even if they're contending? Plus Edwin Diaz gets ejected, but Luis Severino was strong again as the Mets take another series

David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

What’s Up with the Mets? ⚾️

• The Mets took the rubber game in Chicago on Sunday night, beating the Cubs by the score of 5-2 (Box)

• Righty Luis Severino was brilliant for the Mets, going six scoreless innings and striking out ten

• Francisco Lindor, Brandon Nimmo, and Mark Vientos all homered in the victory

• Every Mets starter other than Jeff McNeil reached base in the win

• Harrison Bader enjoyed a big day at the plate, doubling twice, drawing a walk, and scoring two runs

• Souring the win, Edwin Díaz was ejected from the game before ever throwing a pitch in the 9th inning due to sticky stuff

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Injury Updates 🏥

• RF Starling Marte exited Saturday’s game with a sore right knee that has been a nagging injury for nearly three weeks – he sat out on Sunday night and will have an MRI back in New York on Monday

• The Mets are hoping for a mid July return to action for their number two prospect, OF Drew Gilbert, who has been out since April with hamstring strain (Newsday)

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Down on the Farm 🌾

• 2B Luisangel Acuña (No. 5 Prospect, Triple-A): 3-for-4, 2 RBI

• RHP Blade Tidwell (No. 10 Prospect, Triple-A): 6 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, 3 BB, K, HR (L)

• 1B Nick Lorusso (High-A): 2-for-4, HR, RBI, 2 R

BOX SCORES

Single-A STL | High-A BRK | Double-A BNG | Triple-A SYR

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Today’s Game 🗓

The Mets are off today and will open a two game set with the Yankees tomorrow

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What will the Mets rotation look like in the near future?✍️

Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

The Mets charge back into wild card contention has been fueled predominantly by a red-hot offense, but they’ve also gotten substantially improved starting pitching for the better part of three weeks now.

Veterans Luis Severino and Jose Quintana have both delivered multiple quality starts this month, Sean Manaea has consistently delivered strong five inning outings, and the rotation has gotten a boost from the return of southpaw David Peterson.

But there’s a high probability this team’s starting staff could look very different a month or so from now.

Earlier this weekend, the New York Post’s Mike Puma reported the Mets could consider moving one (or more) of their veteran starters ahead of the trade deadline, while still planning to contend for a playoff spot.

That might sound counterintuitive, but the Mets are in a unique situation with their hurlers.

For starters, the best starting pitcher the organization employs is right-hander Kodai Senga, who has yet to even throw a pitch for the team here in 2024. After going down in spring training, Senga has experienced multiple setbacks in his rehab, but he did face hitters for the first time since May on Sunday, and is flying to New York to rejoin the team and throw another live BP later this week. Senga’s timeline to return to action projects as shortly after the all-star break which would obviously be welcome news to a staff that has missed him.

Then there’s the team’s best pitching prospect, Christian Scott, who was up earlier this year for a month-long introduction to the Major League level and certainly impressed.

In five starts for the Mets, the 25-year-old Scott delivered a 3.90 ERA with a 1.08 WHIP, while holding opposing hitters to just a .233 batting average and punching out 25 men in 27.2 innings. He’s struggled a bit with the home run ball in both the Majors and minors this season, but Scott’s stuff is unanimously raved about, and as he gains more experience the Mets believe he can develop into an upper echelon starter.

I’ve personally believed for a long time now that the Mets best chance to compete seriously for a playoff spot is with Senga and Scott leading their rotation, and it would certainly appear the organization agrees.

But a lesser talked about name as a potential rotation difference maker that’s already in the organization is righty Jose Butto.

After an excellent spring training that probably should have earned him a place on the big-league roster to begin with, Butto was up in short order anyway, and definitely opened some eyes.

In seven starts for the Mets, he went 1-3 but posted a strong 3.08 ERA with a 1.13 WHIP, while striking out exactly a batter/inning in 38 frames and holding opposing hitters to a .171 average. His production in Syracuse has been just as good, and the Mets feel Butto has proven himself to be a more than capable middle of the rotation arm.

If there’s an opportunity for the Mets to improve other areas of their Major League team and minor league system by—just for the sake of this exercise—dealing away Quintana and Manaea, their rotation down the stretch could look something like this:

1. Senga

2. Scott

3. Severino

4. Peterson

5. Butto

How would you feel about that?

In this scenario, Tylor Megill, Adrian Houser and Joey Lucchesi would serve as the club’s rotation depth options, which could leave the club somewhat less vulnerable if additional injuries occurred.

Regardless of how this all plays out, it’s clear David Stearns has many more options than it would’ve appeared a month ago, and provided the Mets stay in contention, we could be in store for an interesting trade deadline.

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Around the League 🚩

• LHP Christopher Sanchez fired seven scoreless innings in the Phillies 4-1 home win over Arizona

• OF Jarred Kelenic homered and LHP Max Fried went six strong innings in the Braves’ 3-1 victory in the Bronx

• 3B Alex Bregman went 4-4 with a pair of doubles in the Astros 8-1 win over the Orioles

• RHP Max Scherzer went five scoreless innings and allowed just one hit, earning the victory in his season debut—a 4-0 Rangers win against Kansas City