Looking into a successful early stretch for Mets' bullpen

This story was excerpted from Anthony DiComo’s Mets Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

NEW YORK -- The last time the Mets featured a top-five bullpen, their closer was Billy Wagner. Duaner Sánchez and Pedro Feliciano played prominent roles, at least until Sánchez’s midsummer taxicab accident derailed things. The year was 2006, and late in games, the Mets were mostly untouchable.

Since that time, Mets bullpens have ranged from decent to dreadful. They have not ranked better than sixth in ERA, and that was nearly a decade ago. Typically, the team has sat in the bottom half of the league in reliever ERA, averaging an annual rank of 18th.

But early in 2024, the Mets have offered hints that this year could be different. In addition to producing the ninth-best bullpen ERA (3.29) in the Major Leagues through 16 games, the club's relievers are third with a strikeout rate of 10.69 per nine innings. Historically, that sort of thing is highly correlated with success.

“As a bullpen, we have to strike out a lot of people,” closer Edwin Díaz said, citing the importance of stranding baserunners and limiting the randomness of balls in play. “I think we are attacking the hitters, throwing strikes to them, getting ahead in the count every time. That helps a lot early in the season. I think that’s the main key.”

Pitching coach Jeremy Hefner also cited an organizational commitment to throwing strike one, pitching ahead in counts. But all teams value that. What the Mets have found is a measure of consistency early in the season -- they’ve actually been able to execute what they preach.

“I do think that we have a collection of guys right now that understand their game better than maybe they have in the past,” setup man Adam Ottavino said. “You’re seeing it on display.”

Some examples:

• Ottavino ranks among the MLB leaders with eight called strikeouts, which he credits to an ability to land his backdoor sinker against righties. In a small sample, Ottavino’s strikeout rate is the highest of his career.

• Drew Smith has incorporated a low-90s cutter into his arsenal, giving him six distinct pitches. His ERA is 1.23 through 7 1/3 innings.

• But Smith's mark only seems excellent until you consider Brooks Raley, who has yet to allow a run through 6 1/3 frames. The lefty has been relying more than ever on his sweeper, which has resulted in some of the league’s softest average contact.

• Newcomer Jake Diekman leads all Mets in first-strike percentage, at 70%.

• Even Reed Garrett, who didn’t make the Opening Day bullpen, has reinvented himself, adding multiple offerings and shifting his positioning on the pitching rubber. Mets officials are eager to see him in higher-leverage situations.

Throughout the offseason, president of baseball operations David Stearns talked about compiling a diversity of assets, such as Diekman’s unique arm angle and Jorge López’s elite two-seam velocity. Early in the season, the puzzle pieces have fit.

Of course, when asked what’s been different about his bullpen, which ranked 22nd in ERA (4.45) last season, Hefner immediately answered: “Díaz is back.”

Certainly, the closer’s return from injury has helped. Díaz has been routinely excellent, and his presence has allowed teammates to return to the more comfortable roles they’ve held in the past. But Díaz has only thrown seven innings, or roughly 11% of the bullpen’s output. Most of the genuine improvement has come from others.

If the Mets want it to continue, they’ll need the entire group to keep producing.

“We have a really good bullpen, almost everyone,” Díaz said. “They’ve pitched really good, and they’ve maintained the form from Spring Training heading into the season. That’s really good. I’m really happy with all of them.”

Certainly, the closer’s return from injury has helped. Díaz has been routinely excellent, and his presence has allowed teammates to return to the more comfortable roles they’ve held in the past. But Díaz has only thrown seven innings, or roughly 11% of the bullpen’s output. Most of the genuine improvement has come from others.

If the Mets want it to continue, they’ll need the entire group to keep producing.

“We have a really good bullpen, almost everyone,” Díaz said. “They’ve pitched really good, and they’ve maintained the form from Spring Training heading into the season. That’s really good. I’m really happy with all of them.”