Mets' stellar staff statistics revolve around a process with a purpose
Griffin Canning #46 of the Mets reacts after the fifth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citi Field on Tuesday, Apr. 22, 2025. Credit: Jim McIsaac
The Mets were expected to be a World Series contender this season. Some had them as a favorite to win the NL East.
Nobody, however, predicted the Mets to feature the best pitching staff in the majors. And yet, that’s exactly what they’ve been during the first month of the season, with Tuesday night’s 5-1 victory over the Phillies providing further statistical evidence — this time against a fearsome divisional rival.
Griffin Canning, who’s shaping up to be the free-agent bargain ($4.25 million) of the winter, worked his way through some early traffic to allow just one run over five innings and trim his ERA to 3.12 through five starts — it was 5.19 with the Angels last season. The Mets rotation has not allowed a homer in 11 straight games, and their 2.29 ERA not only leads the majors, but is a full run better than the closest NL team, the Reds (3.37).
“It’s been fun,” said Canning, who struck out five with a walk and scattered seven hits. “I think we all kind of feed off each other.”
The Mets’ 13-man staff has zero Cy Young winners and only three former All-Stars: Kodai Senga, Clay Holmes and closer Edwin Diaz, whose $21.5 million salary for this season makes him the highest-salaried member of the staff (currently active). Oddly enough, Diaz’s 5.59 ERA is the worst of the group, though he’s a perfect 6-for-6 in save opportunities.
It’s all rather difficult to explain. The Mets are tops in team ERA (2.37), second in strikeouts (232, one behind the Dodgers) and sixth in opponents batting average (.214). The staff had allowed only 10 homers through the first 23 games, the third fewest in franchise history, and its 2.08 ERA at Citi is the best through 12 games in the history of the building (fifth-best overall for the franchise). Also, the Mets rotation has given up the fewest homers (five) in the majors -- the Pirates are next-best at nine.
Obviously, the staff as a whole has been performing great, and the pitching is the main reason the Mets stand atop the NL with a 17-7 record, even with their biggest winter signing for the rotation — the presumptive $75 million ace Sean Manaea — on the IL since spring training. But these numbers put them among the best starts in franchise history, which frankly was impossible to see coming, even for late April.
“It’s cool,” said David Peterson, who faces off against former Met Zack Wheeler in Wednesday’s series finale. “It’s not necessarily stuff that we seek out. But when it does come up, it’s like, ‘Oh, we’re doing our job. We’re pitching well.’ And I think it’s only something that tells you to stay on the same track rather than feel good about yourself because you’re doing well.
“Baseball is always a game where you’re humbled or about to be. And if you get too high on the horse, you’re going to get knocked down at some point. So it definitely gives you confidence going forward, but it’s also a reminder that you need to stay with your process and keep doing the good work.”
The Mets seem to have discovered a winning formula they’ve been able to consistently manufacture — and it’s not just one ingredient. People like to point to the closely guarded secrets of the pitching lab, or the expanded analytics department, or the tutelage of coach Jeremy Hefner and his lieutenants. What it hasn’t required, surprisingly enough, is owner Steve Cohen writing big checks for pitchers anymore, which is largely due to David Stearns coming on board as president of baseball operations a year ago.
But the success extends well beyond Stearns merely doing the shopping. It’s the product of cutting-edge, highly personalized training and conditioning regimens along with detailed analytical preparation and the coaching personnel that is able to blend it all together seamlessly.
“I think it’s always beneficial to have all the tools in the tool belt,” said reliever Ryne Stanek, who trimmed his ERA to 0.96 with a scoreless eighth Tuesday. “We’re very fortunate that ownership and the front office here believes in having all the tools in the tool belt to help you be your best.”
Stanek, a nine-year veteran now on his fifth team, counted the Mets’ operation among the most effective, right up there with his other elite pitching-focused stops in Tampa Bay, Houston and Seattle. That helps boost confidence off the charts, too.
“This is as good as anywhere I’ve been,” Stanek said.
How else does a converted closer like Holmes (3.16 ERA) instantly become a front-line starter for the NL East leader? Or Tylor Megill, who nearly began the season at Triple-A Syracuse, pitch to a 1.09 ERA that ranks fourth in the majors, right behind the Dodgers’ $325 million ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
So what’s the secret sauce being served up in Flushing?
“It’s probably different for each guy,” Stearns said. “Sometimes that’s going to be a slight usage change. Sometimes that may be changes in the weight room or the training room. So it’s very difficult to say we’re looking at this specific thing for all pitchers to bring into the organization. And I think we’re fortunate that we have the infrastructure here, and the personnel here — throughout our organization — to capitalize on whatever the need is for that particular player.”
The results, for now, speak for themselves.
David Lennon is an award-winning columnist, a voter for baseball's Hall of Fame and has covered six no-hitters, including two perfect games.
