8 MLB pitchers that need to deliver for contenders
Speaking of Wheeler…
When Wheeler moved from the Mets to the Phillies, it created a gap in New York’s rotation as well. The Mets are strong at the top with Jacob DeGrom and Noah Syndergaard, but they need a veteran third arm to fill in the gap left by Wheeler’s departure.
That have one in Marcus Stroman, acquired in a mid-season trade last year. The question is whether Stroman can deliver.
A couple of seasons ago, that would have been a silly question: Stroman was viewed as a prodigy when he reigned as the staff ace for the Toronto Blue Jays. But recurring shoulder and finger problems made a hash of his 2018 season, and Stroman managed only a 10-13 record with the Jays and Mets last year.
He did do enough following his deadline trade to allow Mets fans to envision the return of the old Stroman, going 4-2 with a 3.77 ERA in 11 starts. If they can get that from him under pennant pressure in 2020, Mets fans would be thrilled.
They’ll need it because Wheeler’s departure leaves a legitimate gap in the rotation. In 31 starts, Wheeler went 11-8 with a 3.96 ERA covering 195 innings. Stroman, for the record, hasn’t delivered that many innings since 2017.