Three takeaways from the Mets' loss to the Twins in series finale
Mets pitcher Huascar Brazoban throws during the ninth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Citi Field on Wednesday. Credit: Newsday/Thomas A. Ferrara
1. The Mets need to keep an eye on Luis Severino
Though Severino said he felt healthy and wasn’t overly fatigued, Wednesday’s velocity dip sure got Carlos Mendoza’s attention.
“I was [concerned] when I saw 93, 91 on one of the fastballs,” Mendoza said. “He kept saying he was fine. Right now we’re good . . . as long as he continues to check the boxes, especially the days after he pitches — the strength, range of motion, everything we do in the training room. He continues to do that.”
Mendoza said Severino didn’t complain of any fatigue, despite now having thrown more innings (123 2⁄3) than he has in any season dating to 2018.
“I kept asking him, ‘Are you OK?’ Mendoza said. “Everything is fine. It was one of those days.”
2. The Mets wanted bullpen flexibility, and did they ever get some — and not just via trade
President of baseball operations David Stearns added two more bullpen arms and a starter at Tuesday’s trade deadline, and acquired two more relievers in Phil Maton and Ryne Stanek prior to that. Now, with Paul Blackburn joining the rotation, they also have Tylor Megill joining their battered relief corps, though that may be temporary. Megill allowed one run and three hits with a walk and two strikeouts over two innings Wednesday.
“We see him as a starter but then we could also see him going into the bullpen,” Mendoza said of Megill. “You never know — he might throw 100 there because the velo is there, obviously, and he’s got so many pitches, so many weapons . . . I think it comes down to, how is it going to be bouncing back after an outing or two and things like that. Big picture, we see him as a starter.”
With Kodai Senga on the 60-day injured list and Christian Scott also hurt, the Mets are weighing whether to continue with their six-man rotation plan — something primarily put in place to protect Senga. For now, though, it makes sense to have Megill in the bullpen, though that might change when they get some bodies back from injury.
Reed Garrett (elbow) looked “really good” in his live session Wednesday, Mendoza said, and is slated for a rehab appearance with Triple-A Syracuse Saturday. Sean Reid-Foley (shoulder) and Dedniel Nunez (forearm) are also expected to make eventual returns.
3. The Mets could have something good in Huascar Brazoban
Mendoza was impressed, at least. The righthander, acquired from the Marlins at the trade deadline, said he had a feeling he was going to be moved but was surprised to learn he was headed to New York, since the Mets hadn’t been mentioned in the rumors he heard.
Regardless, he showed up Wednesday (Marlins duffle bag in tow), and came in to pitch a hitless ninth with a walk and two strikeouts. He has a 2.84 ERA and was averaging 10 strikeouts per nine innings going into Wednesday.
Asked about what he liked the most, Mendoza mentioned his changeup and the life on his fastball.
“Really good fastball,” he said. “Sometimes, it looks like hitters have a tough time picking it up.”
Laura Albanese is a reporter, feature writer and columnist covering local professional sports teams; she began at Newsday in 2007 as an intern.
