Mets toying with six-man rotation
ARLINGTON, Texas — The Mets are considering a little experimental six.
With Steven Matz and Seth Lugo back with the team and presumably healthy after two months on the disabled list, manager Terry Collins on Tuesday indicated he may employ a six-man rotation for at least the next three weeks.
In that scenario, Jacob deGrom, Zack Wheeler, Matt Harvey, Robert Gsellman, Matz and Lugo would all belong to the rotation. Already, Gsellman is remaining in the rotation to start in a doubleheader on Saturday in Atlanta — Matz would pitch the other game with Lugo going Sunday.
Team brass tinkered with a six-man rotation in 2015, but the plan was scrapped after Harvey, among others, complained to Collins.
“I don’t care,” Wheeler told The Post, when asked about the possibility of a six-man rotation. “I know some guys might have a problem with it because they are trying to get their numbers up and it’s all about the money.” Wheeler has other ideas. “I just want to get through the season healthy,” he said before the Mets’ 10-8 loss to the Rangers.
Harvey, who is 4-3 with a 5.43 ERA in 11 starts in his return from surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome, says his opinion on the matter is inconsequential.
“We have to adjust to whatever is decided — it’s not up to us,” Harvey said. “We just have to go out and pitch and play and whoever makes those decisions makes those decisions and it’s our job to adjust.”
Matz and Lugo were both placed on the disabled list before the season opener after incurring elbow injuries late in spring training. Matz had elbow discomfort that he later called a strained flexor tendon and Lugo was diagnosed with a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament.
Both are now counted on to bolster a Mets pitching staff that entered play with a 4.91 ERA that ranked second-to-last in the major leagues.
“We haven’t seen them throw, they have been away,” Harvey said. “But we know what they are capable of and having them back, especially with the doubleheader this weekend and the tough schedule we have coming up, we want to be in the best position we can to win and with those guys back we feel we’re in the right place.”
Beginning Friday the Mets will play 18 games in 17 days, and Gsellman’s recent improvement after a horrendous six-week stretch has made club officials think about experimenting with the six-man rotation.
Additionally, the Mets are monitoring Wheeler’s innings this season in his return from Tommy John surgery that cost him 2015 and ’16.
“Ideally you look at performance, so if guys are doing it and pitching well within [a six-man rotation], then you keep it up,” assistant general manager John Ricco said. “If some guys don’t like the extra rest you kinda have to adjust on the fly a little bit. That is why I don’t think you will see us committing to anything long-term, but I think it’s something we would like to try, at least initially as these guys ramp back into it.”
Even with a six-man rotation the Mets would still employ seven relievers in the bullpen, according to Ricco, and play with a short bench.
Gsellman, who pitched in a six-man rotation in the minor leagues, doesn’t see a downside.
“I’ll never be mad at that extra day of rest,” he said. “We’ve got two good arms back now, so we’ve gotta mix them in.”