The Mets' Starting Rotation

Another season is soon to begin and the Mets' starting rotation is set to be very strong against batters. The rotation depth doesn't just go from the starting pitchers, but also the pitchers in the farm system who will play a huge role in the future.

Unfortunately, the big three won't be together in the rotation this season. While the core of the rotation would have originally been Harvey, deGrom, and Wheeler, Wheeler is now no longer part of the rotation. He underwent Tommy John surgery this past Wednesday to repair his completely torn UCL and the surgery was said to be successful. Hopefully everything goes well with his rehabilitation and we'll see him back in the rotation in 2016.

The current starting rotation the team now has: Colon, deGrom, Harvey, Niese, and Gee. (The stats below are from Baseball-Reference)

Colon was selected as the Opening Day starter for the 2015 season. The decision has been criticized by both newspapers and blogs, as well as fans. Many view this as a negative thing because this season has been highly talked of; this is the year they have to make a playoff push. It would have added to the excitement if the season started off with the young guys, like deGrom (since Harvey was said to not even be involved in talks after missing the 2014 season). Instead, the season is beginning with the oldest, who is also the oldest pitcher to pitch Opening Day in franchise history. In 2014, he posted a 4.09 ERA with a record of 15-13 in 31 games. His performance wasn't spectacular, but it was good enough to win those 15 games. Compared to the rookie, Jacob deGrom's, year, it's understandable why the public's reaction hasn't been entirely positive. What also contributes to this negative reaction is how he's pitched in Spring Training, which hasn't been the greatest. He's given up 10 ER in 4 games, posting a 7.71 ERA. But hey, it's Spring Training.

Jacob deGrom posted a 2.69 ERA in 22 games in his Rookie of the Year season. He underwent Tommy John Surgery back in 2010, only a few months after being drafted by the Mets, before beginning to make his way through the Mets' farm system in 2012. His games hold excitement, drawing the attention from fans. He tied the MLB Record for most consecutive strikeouts in September. He's young and is a major part of the team's future. That's what people want to see on Opening Day. However, age also takes a precedence as to who starts and that is one of the reasons why Colon was chosen instead. Opening Day aside, deGrom has pitched well in Spring Training, posting a 3.00 ERA while giving up 5 ER in 4 games (15 IP). I'm sure everyone's excited to see what he'll bring to the mound this season because he definitely will be another big player on the team this year.

This season, the Dark Knight rises, as he's come to be called. Matt Harvey had a great 2013, becoming the starting pitcher for the All-Star Game at Citi Field and after missing the 2014 season due to Tommy John Surgery, he looks at though he's back and just as good as before. He's posted a 1.26 ERA while giving up only 2 ER so far. Yes, these are only Spring Training stats, but it's good to see that he's back and pitching well. He's a huge asset to the rotation, so it's good to have him back.

There hasn't been a lot of news involving Jon Niese this spring besides the issue with his shoulder he had not too long ago. However, he has pitched well in the three games he's started, giving up 3 ER with a 2.61 ERA. In 2013, he had a 3.40 ERA. He may not be the most exciting to watch, but he does his job. He's the only southpaw in the rotation right now and as long as he's healthy, a good and reliable pitcher to start a game.

Dillon Gee is someone who seemed to be going to the bullpen before Zack Wheeler got the news of needing Tommy John Surgery. However, now that there's a spot open, he'll be back in the rotation. He's had his ups and downs throughout his career with the Mets, especially against the Phillies. He's overcome injuries and made it back out on that mound. In Spring Training, as both a starter and reliever, he's had a 2.45 ERA, giving up 4 ER in 6 games. During his 2014 season, he posted a 4.00 ERA. Again, most of the attention doesn't get drawn to him, but he's a fighter. He doesn't have an outstanding group of pitches compared to others, but he does use his pitches in an effective way. He goes out and pitches to the best of his ability and that's all the team needs him to do.

I'd be lying if I said I believed that rotation would be the same by the end of the season. I do think things will change and my prediction would be: deGrom, Harvey, Syndergaard, Matz, and Niese, not necessarily in that order. I could be wrong, but no matter what, when talking about the pitching rotation, you also have to talk about the prospects.

Most thought we would get a glimpse of Noah Syndergaard by the end of the 2014 season. That didn't happen, but I think most agree that he wasn't necessarily major league ready. There was still some maturing that needed to happen. He had a 4.91 ERA giving up 3 ER in three Spring Training games before being demoted. In his full season at AAA Las Vegas last year, he had a 4.60 ERA. Not the best on the surface, but he did improve from the first to second half of the season. His demotion didn't come as a surprise. It's become common practice for teams to wait out the extra few weeks into the season before calling up prospects to gain the extra year before a team reaches free agency. He's young, he's healthy, and he's got good stuff, but he still needs to establish himself. He didn't have an outstanding Spring Training, so he hasn't forced the Mets' hand to put him in the rotation. He may be the extra boost in the rotation the Mets need this year. To wait until the Super 2 deadline in June would be a little bit harder to wait for. The Mets front office hasn't been known to make these big moves, but if Syndergaard has a number of great starts to open the season in Las Vegas, how soon they bring him up would be in discussion. What also may change how early we see him in the majors is if an injury were to occur. That would require another pitcher to fill a rotation spot. Either way, I'm sure we'll see Syndergaard at some point this year, but most want him up sooner rather than later.

Steven Matz, though not mentioned in the newspapers quite as often, is a southpaw pitcher who can also have a huge impact for the Mets this season. Yes, he was also recently demoted to Las Vegas, but I certainly think we'll be seeing him in the majors this year. He posted a 2.08 ERA in Spring Training, allowing only 2 ER. He split the 2013 season between the St. Lucie Mets (A) and Binghamton (AA), posting a 2.25 ERA. Getting to where he is now has been tough. Signing with the Mets directly out of high school in 2010, he shortly after had to undergo Tommy John Surgery. While the normal recovery time averages 12-14 months, Matz's was prolonged. It eventually took him two years to fully recover, but he did. He had no intention of giving up and he's a tough guy. He's always looking to improve on things, whether that be his pitching or even his hitting. He's an outstanding pitcher with a lot of potential and his great ERA in Spring Training has only added to the impression he gives the team officials.

Lastly, Rafael Montero. It's unclear as to where he'll fit into the team at this point, whether it be the bullpen or the starting rotation. The competition for the final rotation spot seems to be between him and Gee. After coming up to the majors last year, he had a tough time, posting a 4.06 ERA in 10 games, giving up 21 runs in 44.1 IP. However, he recently made a start against the Yankees and pitched well. He was in good command of all of his pitches and the team officials were definitely impressed. It seems that his job is most likely going to be in the bullpen, but he definitely will be an asset as a long-term reliever as long as he continues to pitch well and with control. If he continues to pitch well, he may make it harder for them to send him to the pen.

So, that about sums up the current and future major league starting pitchers (or in Montero's case, possible SP) in the organization. From a personal standpoint, I'm extremely excited to eventually see Steven Matz. I think he will be a huge addition to the rotation this season. Their pitching staff is very well built and with the eventual addition of the young arms, it can only get better. If this is going to be the year they make a playoff push, they need the offense, but their starting pitching is just as important.

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ICYMI: I wrote a post about the rising numbers of Tommy John Surgery