Mets’ bullpen undermines Carlos Mendoza’s early hook as young Brandon Sproat delivers strong debut start
Rookie right-hander worked six scoreless innings but Tyler Rogers and Edwin Díaz surrendered three runs in late innings in New York’s eighth straight loss, 3-2 to Texas
The New York Mets dropped their eighth straight game Saturday, 3-2 to the Texas Rangers, after the bullpen surrendered three runs in the eighth and ninth innings following a six-scoreless-inning outing by rookie right-hander Brandon Sproat.
Sproat, 24, scattered six hits, issued no walks and struck out three in an efficient 70-pitch performance in his first start at Citi Field. Manager Carlos Mendoza removed him after six innings, citing a noticeable drop in velocity and increased hard contact by the Rangers late in the sixth inning.
"Even though there were only 70 pitches, when you look up in that inning, there was a big-time velo drop," Mendoza said. "Like 5-6 mph, from like 97-98 to 93, and there were some hard-hit balls there. He got through that inning, and I checked with him, like, 'Physically, are you fine?' He said yes, but I said, 'I'm gonna go to the bullpen here.' He wanted to keep going and you respect that. But when you're watching an inning like that … he's a guy that holds his velo. So I wasn't going to take any chances." Mendoza later added "no, not at all" when asked if he had concerns about Sproat's health.
Sproat echoed the manager's account, repeatedly saying, "I'm good," after the game and expressing deference to Mendoza's decision. "My goal is to just go out there and pitch as long as I can, compete for as long as I can until they take the ball from me," Sproat said. "I respect their call. That's his call. Obviously I never want the ball taken from me, I'm a competitor. I wanted to keep going, but I trust his decision and trust the bullpen behind me."
Tyler Rogers and Edwin Díaz combined to allow three runs across the eighth and ninth innings, erasing a 2-0 Mets lead and costing Sproat a chance at his first major league win. Díaz, New York's closer, was charged with runs that sealed the loss. The defeat followed a rough outing Friday for rookie Jonah Tong, who was hit for six runs in the first inning.
Sproat, a 2023 second-round draft pick, lowered his season ERA to 2.25 with the outing. He relied heavily on a sinking fastball that induced ground balls and mixed in a sweeper and other pitches, according to Mendoza, who called the sinker "his pitch today." Mendoza said Sproat "threw strikes" and created "weak contact," signaling positive signs despite the team loss.
The Mets have rotated several rookies through recent starts, and Nolan McLean (4-1, 1.42 ERA) was scheduled to start Sunday's series finale. The young-staff approach has produced encouraging individual outings even as the club's bullpen struggles have contributed to a string of defeats.
New York's bullpen performance has been a recurring issue this season, with late-inning runs eroding quality starts and close leads. Management and players alike have pointed to the need for more consistency from relievers as the Mets navigate the final weeks of the season and evaluate their roster at both the big-league and minor-league levels.
The Mets will turn to McLean in the series finale as they attempt to halt the skid and provide additional look-ins for their young arms before season's end. Mendoza said he saw enough positives from Sproat’s outing to be encouraged about the rookie's development despite the loss, noting two straight impressive starts from a rotation group that has mixed in multiple first-year pitchers this month.