Mets starter Jose Butto, learning as he goes, shows he's growing into reliable member of rotation
Jose Butto #70 of the Mets pitches during the first inning against the Chicago Cubs at Citi Field on Wednesday, May 1, 2024. Credit: Jim McIsaac
Jose Butto gritted his way through his first two innings against the Cubs, battling the control issues that periodically afflict him, and no doubt aware of the things working against his favor.
The first one was the opposing pitcher: Shota Imanaga — “The Throwing Philosopher” — who’s been pretty much untouchable since coming in from Nippon Japanese Baseball this season, and came into the day with the best ERA in baseball. There was the Cubs lineup to deal with, of course.
But beyond all that, there was the thought that gnaws at every player who claws his way out of Triple-A: How much longer?
How much longer will I get to do this, at this level? Have I shown enough? Have I earned it?
Those doubts are no doubt exacerbated by reality: Kodai Senga is scheduled to throw two simulated innings of live batting practice Saturday. Tylor Megill is making a rehab start with Double-A Binghamton Thursday. And David Peterson threw two perfect innings in his rehab start Sunday. And none of that takes into account the fact that Christian Scott is lighting up the minor leagues, or that Joey Lucchesi has been pretty impressive, too.
If you’re David Stearns, all of this is good news. But if you’re Butto, it means going into every start like your career depends on it.
Wednesday, Butto pitched like it — settling down after the first two innings to allow one run over six innings. He now has a 2.93 ERA dating back to Sept. 6. Prior to Wednesday night’s game, he had held opposing batters to a .188 average in that span.
It’s the type of production the Mets can use, especially with Adrian Houser struggling, but that usefulness doesn’t evaporate when Senga, Megill and Peterson return. In fact, Butto could provide a different sort of value: A way to protect Senga, who not only is returning from a shoulder injury, but is just two seasons removed from pitching in the NPB, where starters go just once a week.
By shifting to a six-man rotation — one that should include Butto if he keeps pitching at this level — the Mets will be able to pitch their ace on five days' rest, further keep their bullpen from being overtaxed and retain the option to replace Houser if he doesn’t turn things around.
As it stands, Senga’s rehab assignment already has him pitching every six days, and it simply doesn’t make sense to change that up when he rejoins the team in Flushing. And so far, there’s no dire need for him to pitch every fifth day: Other than Houser, the Mets' starters have exceeded expectations. Jose Quintana has been a stabilizing force, and Luis Severino continues to showcase the brilliance that wowed people earlier in his career. Sean Manaea has been more than adequate. The bullpen, which came into the day with a NL-best 2.85 ERA, has made those starts stand up.
If there is a true knock against the rotation, it’s that they don’t go deep into games — averaging 5 2/3 innings going into Wednesday (and that includes two eight-inning gems from Quintana and Severino). Well-rested starters, though, can likely pitch longer — a boon in the later months, when bullpens start to really feel the wear and tear of a long season.
And it just so happens that Butto is making the decision easier. It helps that he’s shown an ability to self-correct when things start to go haywire — proving time and again that the lights (and the intense pressure) aren’t too bright for him. Wednesday night, it manifested in him allowing the first two runners to reach in the first inning before attacking the heart of the Cubs order — striking out Ian Happ, getting Christopher Morel to pop out to foul territory and getting Michael Busch to bite at a high fastball that he skied out to third.
He allowed one run on four hits, with two walks and six strikeouts in six innings. He now has a 2.57 ERA, which is second only to Severino among active Mets starters, and he's earned Carlos Mendoza's trust. With his pitch count creeping toward 90 in the sixth, his manager kept him in to face the heart of the Cubs order: He allowed Happ to single, but then coaxed a double play from Morel and got Busch to fly out.
In short, he seems to be taking Mendoza's advice.
“Continue to do what you’re doing,” Mendoza said of his message to Butto. “Take it one day at a time. Control the things you can control and don’t worry about anything else. We’ve been having these conversations with him since spring training.”
It’s served him well. And if things continue at this rate, it should continue to serve him and this team even after Senga and Megill return.
Laura Albanese is a reporter, feature writer and columnist covering local professional sports teams; she began at Newsday in 2007 as an intern.