Mets’ bullpen not just a big league problem

Mining through the Mets’ minor league system for prospective bullpen help shows why their first addition came in the external form of Neil Ramirez.

The Mets, as they ponder a selloff, have given themselves a razorthin margin of error if they have any hope to compete for a playoff spot. More blown games from a relief corps that ranked 27th in the majors with a 4.97 ERA entering Friday could seal shut their odds. They have not had an internal answer all year, and that hasn’t changed.

The only reliever at Triple-A Las Vegas on the 40-man roster is Hansel Robles, exiled from the big league squad since May 23 after posting a 6.23 ERA in 21 appearances. Since heading down to the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League, the 26-year-old had pitched 12¹/3 innings of 12-run ball (8.76 ERA), including getting shelled in his two most recent outings, allowing five runs in three innings.

The options for whom the Mets would need to make a 40-man roster shift are not appetizing. The most impressive Triple-A arm is a relatively new one — at least at that level. Kyle Regnault, 28 and a longtime mi- nor leaguer, reached Vegas for the first time in mid-May and had been perfect, allowing no runs and striking out six in 9¹/3 innings. Regnault, whom the Mets signed from a Can-Am team in 2014, throws low90s with a big curve, and was promoted after an impressive start with Double-A Binghamton.

The late bloomer, though, is the outlier.

Beside Regnault, other relievers on the major league doorstep are a series of eyesores. Lefty David Roseboom, after a promising 2016, was knocked around in 17¹/3 Triple-A innings (8.31 ERA) before suffering a foot injury in late May. Since righty Alberto Baldonado’s promotion to Vegas in mid-May, the 24-year-old has posted a 7.13 ERA. Last year the Mets converted Kevin McGowan, a righty whose fastball resides in the mid-90s, from starter to reliever, which brought immediate results. This year, though, he has taken a step back: In 402/3 innings, he had struck out 37 and pitched to a 4.87 ERA — though actually that was one of the best on the staff.

If the Mets are giving up, it’s par- tially because their bullpen reinforcements never took shape.

With every start, the Yankees seem to be a bit richer in starting pitching.

This week’s Eastern League pitcher of the week was Justus Sheffield, the lefty obtained in last year’s Andrew Miller trade. Sheffield, with Double-A Trenton, threw two gems, allowing one run and striking out 11 in 13 innings.

At Triple-A Scranton/WilkesBarre, Chance Adams looks ready. The right-hander has allowed one run in his past two starts (11 innings), lowering his ERA to 2.12.