The MLB All-Star Game rosters were announced this weekend. Jacob deGrom was announced as a starter selected to the NL All-Star team. But what about the other Mets pitchers that should have made it? The Mets sit in atop the NL East standings heading into the All-Star break, and much of that is do to their pitching. In their first place first half a case can be made for multiple Mets pitchers deserving of All-Star selection. Notable New York stubs are Taijuan Walker and Edwin Diaz. Both have been outstanding this season.
Taijuan Walker
Taijuan Walker has been brilliant this season. The Mets pitcher has exceeded expectations and maintains a 2.44 ERA and a 7-3 record. Walker’s 2.44 ERA ranks ninth among pitcher in the national league. Walker was nearly perfect in his last start Saturday against the Yankees. A performance that was thought to have stamped his ticket to Coors Field for the All-Star Game. However, Sunday the rosters were announced and his name was not on it. Despite having a better record or ERA than three pitchers that were selected (Germán Márquez, Yu Darvish, and Corbin Burnes) Walker was left off of the list.
Mets manager Luis Rojas commented on Walker’s All-Star resume. “He’s a guy that, for me, deserves to be in the All-Star Game.” Rojas said. “He’s been outstanding. He’s been like another ace for us.”
Despite pitching at an All-Star level the right handed starter was left out of the voting, nonetheless, the 28-year-old shows no signs of slipping up in the second half of the Mets season.
Edwin Diaz
Early on this season the Mets bullpen was a concern, however, as the seasons gone on Edwin Diaz has been anything but a concern. Diaz has been terrific this season. He has converted 17 of his 18 save opportunities for the Mets. The closer is maintaining a 2.84 ERA and has been one of the best relief pitchers in the MLB. Diaz has been especially phenomenal throwing first pitch strikes. Batters who swing at the first pitch against the 27-year-old Diaz are hitting .186 in 45 plate appearances. Not only that, but 65 percent of the batters Diaz faces go down with a first pitch strike. A definite All-Star resume, it’s a mystery how the relief pitcher was snubbed.
Luis Rojas
After hearing the news, Mets manager Luis Rojas expressed his disappointment. “We have Jake only,” Rojas said. “For me, there should’ve been a couple more guys and Walker is one of them. Edwin Diaz too.”
However, there is a chance that deGrom doesn’t pitch in the All-Star game. The Mets ace is making a start two days prior to the game in Denver.
“For me, I don’t think it’s smart to go pitch in the All-Star Game,” deGrom said. “I’ve been a little beat up this first half and obviously missed a few starts that I wish I wouldn’t have missed. I don’t think it makes sense to throw in it, and going is something I gotta think about.”
If deGrom doesn’t pitch, it is possible the Mets snubs (Walker or Diaz) could still appear in Coors. For the Mets, regardless of if their pitchers make the All-Star team the most important thing is that they are deserving. How the second half of the season goes is crucial to the Mets playoff push.
