The starting pitching, perhaps overlooked as a strength of the team before the season, helped carry the Mets to the best record in baseball (45-24) on June 12. But ineffectiveness and injuries brought the unit back to earth in June, most notably when the trio of David Peterson, Paul Blackburn and Frankie Montas each were hit hard during a three-game sweep in Pittsburgh. The Mets were outscored 30-4 by the team with the fewest runs scored in the majors.
Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images
Still, Met starters finish the first half with a 35-24 record, 3.38 ERA (second in the National League to the Phillies, fourth in MLB) and 458 strikeouts in 489 1/3 innings. The starters’ WHIP is 1.29, 18th in MLB, which, taken together with the ERA ranking, shows that the group has made a habit of pitching out of jams.
It’s been a rocky ride at times, openers have been necessary, but with Kodai Senga and Sean Manaea turning in promising outings over the weekend in their returns from injuries, the outlook for the second half is good.
Kodai Senga: A
He was leading the National League in ERA when he suffered a hamstring strain on June 12. He may not give you quantity (5.5 innings per start), but he does provide quality. (7-3, 1.39 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 74 SO, 77.2 IP, 3.0 WAR)
David Peterson: A
Proving that last year (10-3, 2.90 ERA) was no fluke, he’s allowed three runs or fewer in 16 of his 18 starts. The 29-year-old is a first-time All-Star. (6-4, 3.06 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 93 SO, 109 IP, 2.0 WAR)
Clay Holmes (35) Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
Clay Holmes: A-
It’s been a smooth transition from the Bronx to Queens and from reliever to starter. He leads the team with 19 starts and is second in innings pitched. (8-4, 3.31 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 83 SO, 103.1 IP, 1.4 WAR)
Frankie Montas: D
The grade is more a reflection of him missing time because of a lat strain that delayed his Mets debut until June 24. He’s made four starts, two good, two bad. (2-1, 5.03 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 17 SO, 19.2 IP, -0.1 WAR)
Such a shame to see him go down with a season-ending ruptured left Achilles’ coming off the mound on June 26. He had already matched his career-high win total and was enjoying a comeback season after leading the American League in earned runs allowed in 2024. (7-3, 3.77 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 70 SO, 76.1 IP, 0.8 WAR)
Tylor Megill: C
He started off with five straight starts where he allowed two earned runs or less, but then hit a rough patch. His May ERA was 5.96, and he never completed six innings in five turns. His last outing was on June 14, and he’s on the 60-day injured list with a right elbow sprain, meaning the earliest he could return is mid-August. (5-5, 3.95 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 89 SO, 68.1 IP, 0.0 WAR)
