The New York Mets are shaking up their starting rotation, demoting Logan Verrett to Triple-A and moving Jon Niese into his spot.
The New York Mets will be making a change to their starting rotation this week. Out of the rotation is Logan Verrett, who originally replaced the injured Matt Harvey in July. In his place, the Mets will be returning to a familiar face in Jon Niese.
The Mets acquired Niese right before the MLB Trade Deadline from the Pittsburgh Pirates for Antonio Bastardo. It was an exchange of players going back to the team they played for last season, as both Bastardo and Niese struggled throughout the first half of 2015.
The Mets are now turning to Niese in favor of Verrett, who pitched well for the team in a swing role last season. He did not have the same success this year, though, as Verrett struggled to replace Harvey in the rotation.
Verrett struggled mightily as a starter in 2015, compiling a 1-6 record in 12 starts. He had an ERA of 6.45 and WHIP of 1.67 in 60 innings pitched. The Mets had finally seen enough after he got blasted by the San Diego Padres on Friday night, surrendering eight runs in 2 2/3 innings. That was the fifth time this season that Verrett allowed at least five earned runs in a start.
More from New York Mets
- Last Chance Caesars Promo: Claim $1,250 Bonus for ANY MLB Bet!
- PointsBet New York Promo: FIVE $100 Bonus Bets to Back the Yankees or Mets!
- Get $500 in Bonus Bets to Back Yankees or Mets With PointsBet New York Promo
- PointsBet is Offering New Yorkers FIVE $50 Bonus Bets This Week For MLB, NHL, and NBA Games!
- Caesars is Offering New York’s Best Sportsbook Promo (Unlock $1,250 Bonus Today!)
Taking his place in the rotation will be Niese. Niese, despite sporting a record of 8-6, has not been good this season either. He has compiled an ERA of 5.20 and WHIP of 1.58 in 27 appearances, 17 of which were starts.
Niese put up a 5.13 ERA with the Pirates in 18 starts before being demoted to their bullpen. But, he is confident in himself as he returns to the starting rotation with the Mets, working with Dan Warthen.
“I know Dan, he knows me,” Niese said Saturday. “He knows how I attack hitters, he knows my strengths, my weaknesses. Just a little bit more comfortable here.”
One of the things Niese is more comfortable with is how the Mets go about their defense. The Pirates shift as much as any team in baseball, having their pitchers pitch based on that. It is something Niese was never comfortable with in Pittsburgh, so he is hoping that things can get back on track with the Mets.
“They do a few things different in Pittsburgh,” manager Terry Collins said to Maria Guardado of NJ.com. “There are so many shifts — so you pitch to the shifts — and that kind of goes against some of the stuff Jon is comfortable doing.”
Next: 5 Greatest First Baseman In New York Mets History
Niese will be returning to the mound as a starter on Wednesday in the series finale against the Arizona Diamondbacks. He will be opposed by Zack Godley and it will be his first start since July 10th.