Breaking down Mets’ revamped bullpen ahead of stretch run

When the Mets open a series in Anaheim on Friday, they will start August with a bullpen that has one — one — holdover from their July 1 bullpen. 

Adam Ottavino is the lone survivor in a unit that David Stearns continues to build on the fly. Stearns has been known for swapping relievers in bullpens that become living things, and he has lived up to his reputation in Year 1 in Queens. 

Back at the start of July, Ottavino was surrounded by Ty Adcock (who has since been released), Jake Diekman (designated for assignment), Matt Festa (released), Reed Garrett (injured), Adrian Houser (released), Tyler Jay (DFA’d and traded) and Dedniel Nunez (injured). 

“Bullpen performance is really volatile, and bullpens evolve over the course of the year, and the needs out of your pen evolve over the course of the year,” Stearns said after the trade-deadline makeover of his relief corps. “We’ve tried to be responsive to the needs of our pen.” 

Maybe the Mets, who have turned to 27 different relievers to get outs this season, finally have found a group that works and rolls into the postseason. The better guess is the current crew will continue to be shuffled in and out for a team that has shown an openness to sticking with relievers who excel (Nunez comes to mind) and an openness to moving on when a reliever doesn’t perform (insert a couple dozen names here). 

“Feel good,” manager Carlos Mendoza said this week of his post-deadline bullpen. “Now there’s a lot of options there.” 

Let’s take a look at the latest version of the Mets’ bullpen options: 

The usual: Edwin Diaz, Ottavino 

Since returning from the injured list in early July, Diaz has pitched like Diaz (eight innings, one run, three hits, 10 strikeouts). 

This year Ottavino has gone from magical to mop-up, losing his status in the bullpen but not losing his spot. The 38-year-old has begun to show signs of pitching like the reliable right-hander he usually has been in his career, allowing one run on five hits in his past 5 ²/₃ innings. 

The converts: Jose Butto, Tylor Megill 

Butto is becoming the Second Coming of Seth Lugo: so valuable as a reliever that he is pitching his way out of the rotation. The righty has thrown three innings in back-to-back outings as a way to ensure he is reasonably stretched out in case he is needed as a starter, but he is a reliever “for now,” Stearns said. 

Megill owns the same temporary status but has yet to prove he can be as effective out of the bullpen. The Mets, who will turn to Paul Blackburn on Friday, have a five-man rotation at the moment. Megill would be the most logical insert if they opt for a six-man. 

July major league trade additions: Huascar Brazoban, Phil Maton, Ryne Stanek 

All three righties have postseason experience. All have track records of effectiveness, though Brazoban (2.84 ERA) has been the best this season. Maton (two runs in seven innings) has appeared to shelve his slider with the Mets and has seen solid results with his cutter, sweeper, sinker and curveball. Stanek was bombed in his first outing with the Mets but rebounded Tuesday. 

“When you’re trying to push for a playoff spot,” Brazoban said, “the games start to heighten, and it becomes a lot more exciting.” 

The Youngs: Alex, Danny 

No relation, though both are linked because they are lefties who have been given a chance recently and have performed. 

Alex Young was claimed from the Giants in mid-July, added right into the bullpen and has been nearly untouched in 4 ²/₃, one-hit, scoreless innings. Using a changeup that makes him particularly effective against righties, Young has emerged in a bullpen that has needed a lefty to emerge. 

The same goes for Danny Young, a minor league signing this offseason who has bounced between Triple-A and the majors but might be proving he can stick. In seven games since July 10, he has thrown 6 ²/₃ scoreless innings and struck out 11. 

Danny Young missed the majority of last season due to hip surgery and earlier this year said he has felt the best he has in years. 

“I was never a prospect. It took me a long time to get to the big leagues,” said the 2015 eighth-round pick of the Blue Jays, who did not debut until 2022 with the Mariners. “I never took any day for granted nor expected the game to give me anything. So I just approach it with any day I get in the big leagues, I just try and do the best I can every day and put myself in a position to do what the team needs me to do.” 

The healthy next batch: Tyler Zuber, Matt Gage, Eric Orze, Shintaro Fujinami 

Zuber, picked up from the Rays at the deadline, has been optioned to Triple-A Syracuse. The righty, who started his year with the Independent Long Island Ducks, missed a lot of bats in the Rays’ system (29 strikeouts in 21 ²/₃ innings with Triple-A Durham). 

Gage, picked up from the Dodgers in early July, and Orze, a well-regarded prospect, combined to strike out 94 Triple-A hitters in 69 ²/₃ innings entering play Thursday. Fujinami’s stuff has never been in question, but he has walked far too many. 

The rehabbing next batch: Garrett, Nunez, Sean Reid-Foley, Bryce Montes de Oca 

Garrett (nerve inflammation) begins a rehab assignment with Triple-A Syracuse on Saturday.

Nunez (right pronator strain) should not be too far behind. Reid-Foley (shoulder impingement) struck out the side with Double-A Binghamton on Wednesday. Montes de Oca, a fireballer coming off Tommy John surgery, is trying to find his command with Syracuse.