Mets 2024 First Half Report Card: Relievers

It’s no secret that the Mets’ bullpen has the team’s weakest link. Their 4.20 ERA ranks 20th in the majors, and they’ve already been charged with 20 losses and 16 blown saves. Since July 1, the Mets’ bullpen has a 7.49 ERA, which is the worst mark in the majors. With the team currently holding a playoff spot, they will need a lot more from their relievers if they want to make a postseason run.

Edwin Díaz: C

This has felt a lot like a Murphy’s Law season for Edwin Díaz. He had a 0.93 ERA after his outing on April 28, but over his next 10 appearances, he got tagged for 11 earned runs, gave up four homers, and blew four of his five save opportunities. In late May, Díaz was placed on the injured list, where he spent three weeks. 10 days after returning from the IL, though, Díaz was suspended for 10 games for having a foreign substance on his hand.

While Díaz still hasn’t been quite like the 2022 version of himself, he’s looked better since returning from injury, converting five of his six save opportunities and not allowing an earned run over 6 2/3 innings. As expected, Díaz has lost some velocity off his fastball and slider, and his 2.89 xERA, 2.96 xFIP, and 22.7% HR/FB rate indicate he’s been a bit unlucky.

Reed Garrett: C+

Reed Garrett got off to a rip-roaring start, allowing just one earned run and striking out 28 of the 61 batters he faced in April. Since May 16, however, Garrett has a 6.86 ERA and has given up five homers in 21 innings. Furthermore, Garrett has allowed 12 of his 21 inherited runners to score. He was placed on the injured list on July 9 with elbow inflammation. Garrett still has a strong 34.2% strikeout rate, but his 12% walk rate is a cause for concern. Garrett has particularly struggled to pitch with fewer than two days in between outings (7.47 ERA), which will be something Carlos Mendoza will need to be careful with in the second half.

Dedniel Núñez: A

Dedniel Núñez has been nothing short of fantastic in 2024. He has a 2.35 ERA/2.38 FIP with a 34.2% strikeout rate against just a 4.4% walk rate in 30 2/3 innings. Nuñez’s 2.24 xERA and 2.41 xFIP indicate there are reasons to believe he can keep his success going in the second half of the season. The 28-year-old has stranded all 12 of his inherited runners and has held opponents to just .281 OPS with runners in scoring position. Expect to see Níñez continue to get chances in high-leverage situations down the stretch.

Adam Ottavino: D

In his third season in Flushing, Adam Ottavino posted a 1.54 ERA through his first 11 appearances, but he’s struggled to a 6.56 ERA since May 4. It’s been a bit of an odd year for the 38-year-old – his strikeout rate is back over 30%, his walk rate is down to 8.5%, and his hard-hit rate has dropped from 40.7% to 33.7%. However, his ground-ball rate has plummeted from 54.9% to 43.0% and his opponents’ BABiP has risen from .255 to .317. Ottavino’s 2.96 xERA, 3.59 FIP, and 3.71 xFIP suggest that he could turn his season around in the second half, but he has a long way to go before he can reclaim his role as a high-leverage reliever.

Jake Diekman: F

Serving as the only lefty in the bullpen for much of the year, Jake Diekman’s time in Flushing has been anything but smooth sailing. He’s posted a career-worst 5.53 ERA and issued 22 walks in 27 2/3 innings. Much like Ottavino, Diekman pitched well through his first dozen appearances of the season, but since May 5, he’s appeared in 27 games and has an ugly 6.88 ERA, allowing five homers with 15 walks in 17 innings.

Diekman has been torched for a .915 OPS in high-leverage situations and has a 10.80 ERA in save situations. His 62.2% strand rate is the worst mark of his career, as is his 1.6 HR/9, though his 27.8% HR/FB ratio seems rather unsustainable.

Adrian Houser: C-

Adrian Houser’s Mets tenure got off to a disastrous start, posting an 8.16 ERA in five starts before getting moved to the bullpen. Houser made a brief return to the rotation on May 21 but was moved back to the bullpen after getting shelled by the Guardians for six runs in five innings. While he’s struggled in his first two appearances in July, Houser has a respectable 3.09 ERA in 32 innings as a reliever, striking out 22 batters against 10 walks. Even if he isn’t a high-leverage arm, Houser’s ability to give the team some length out of the bullpen has been a boost for Carlos Mendoza.

José Buttó: A

José Buttó pitched well as a member of the Mets’ rotation early in the season, posting a 3.08 ERA in 38 innings, but he was optioned to Triple-A once David Peterson returned from injury. Buttó was recalled from Syracuse at the beginning of July as a reliever, and the early returns have been strong. Across four appearances, Buttó has tossed 7 2/3 shutout innings, allowing just two hits and three walks, striking out eight, and holding opponents to just a .291 OPS.

Buttó has recorded at least four outs in each of his relief appearances, earning three wins and recording his first big league save on July 10 against the Nationals. Carlos Mendoza indicated that Buttó will stick around on the major league roster in the second half, and it will be interesting to see how he fares in the bullpen as the playoff race heats up.

Danny Young: C

Danny Young’s Mets career got off to a strong start, posting a 0.87 ERA with 12 strikeouts through his first 10 appearances after debuting on May 2. However, he allowed multiple earned runs in three consecutive outings to end June, raising his ERA to 5.11 and earning himself a trip back to Triple-A Syracuse. Young was recalled on July 11, and he’s tossed 2 1/3 shutout innings over three appearances, bringing his season ERA to 4.30. Southpaws are batting .304 against the sidearming lefty, though he’s allowed just one extra-base hit to them in 26 plate appearances.

While Young doesn’t throw particularly hard, his sweeper has been very effective, registering a 49.2% whiff rate. With Jake Diekman struggling, there’s reason to believe Young will stay on the big league roster unless the team acquires another lefty. (They claimed lefty Alex Young on Wednesday)

Sean Reid-Foley: B

After pitching in just 17 2/3 innings in the last two seasons, Sean Reid-Foley got off to a nice start in 2024 before landing on the injured list in late June. He’s pitched to a 1.66 ERA/2.79 FIP with 25 strikeouts without allowing a homer in 21 2/3 innings. Walks have been an issue for Reid-Foley’s entire career, and this year has been no different, posting a 15.6% walk rate. However, he owns a strong 62.7% ground-ball rate and just a 21.6% fly-ball rate.

While he’s lost a little velocity off his fastball, opponents have just a .221 xSLG against it and an eye-popping 68.8% whiff rate against his slider. Reid-Foley’s 2.83 xERA, 2.79 FIP, and 3.68 xFIP indicate that he can remain an effective relief option if he stays healthy.

Previous Report Card: Position Players

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