Yesterday's Rain Out and Its Implications on the Mets' Taxed Pitching Staff

So far this season the Mets are getting fewer innings from their starters, 105, than all but four teams in the game; only two teams have thrown more innings than their bullpen, 71.

What’s my point here? Yesterday’s rain out could really hurt the Mets' pitching staff. Johan Santana is starting the first game, which should help, but if he doesn’t go deep into the game tonight they are most certainly going to have to go deep into the game tonight when Oliver Perez takes the mound.

It’s a good bet the bullpen could be drained after the Mets finish playing games today. They are certainly will be after they finish tomorrow, as John Maine is scheduled to take the mound tomorrow and he couldn’t even make it out of the fourth inning his last time out. Another performance like that could have devastating effects for the rest of the week.

Between the bullpen’s already heavy workload, the upcoming doubleheader, and the human bullpen burner going tomorrow the Mets are going to have to do something to shore up their bullpen. They could do this by sending a reliever like Manny Acosta back down to the minors or even DFA a guy like Frank Catalanotto to make room for another pitcher.

One pitcher who might be particularly useful this week is R.A. Dickey . The knuckleballer has been pitching deep into games in the minor leagues and could throw all day thanks to that knuckler. Really though, a roster change might be necessary this week.

Related Stories

• April 25, 2010 -- R.A. Dickey Might Not be a Bad Idea (0)
• April 24, 2010 -- Maine Might Miss a Start, But No DL Expected (0)
• April 14, 2010 -- If Not John Maine Than Who? (0)
• April 13, 2010 -- The Mets Should Stay Away from Aaron Harang (0)