Mets Robert Gsellman showing improvement before move to the pen

A couple hours after New York Mets general manager, Sandy Alderson, revealed Robert Gsellman would be headed to the bullpen, Gsellman threw his best start of the season.

The Mets took on the Brewers Monday at Citi Field. Robert Gsellman earned his third win, in a 4-2 New York victory.

Gsellman had, by far, his best start of the season. The right-hander went seven innings, allowing two runs, one earned, on three hits. He also struck out five, while walking two.

It was Gsellman’s second straight start that he resembled the Robert Gsellman of 2016. Last Wednesday, Gsellman went six innings, allowing three runs on six hits.

He left the game with the lead, but the Mets bullpen did what the Mets bullpen does best.

Most Mets fans were curious at Terry Collins‘ decision to pull Gsellman after six innings, and only 84 pitches. When the media asked Terry Collins, he simply said he wanted Gsellman to leave the game feeling good.

I’m not a huge Terry Collins fan, but maybe Gsellman leaving the game feeling good led to this successful start on Monday.

More importantly, it appears Gsellman has returned to the form everyone expected him to be all season. It comes at a time where now the Mets will happily have an issue.

A couple of hours before the game, Sandy Alderson mentioned that Steven Matz and Seth Lugo would be making one more rehab start before returning. Alderson announced that when Matz and Lugo return, Robert Gsellman will be headed to the bullpen.

There’s a few things to consider with this move. It appears Gsellman is feeling more like himself, should the Mets immediately send him to the bullpen?

Yes, the Mets desperately need good arms in the bullpen. However, would it be a bad idea to send Lugo to the bullpen until Gsellman cools off? They both have bullpen experience so it’s not the biggest issue the Mets have to worry about.

What’s more important is that Gsellman looked his best today. Also, the Mets starters have started to look better as a whole.

After Gsellman pitched well last Wednesday, (skip Montero on Thursday) deGrom threw a gem Friday, Wheeler pitched well Saturday, and even Matt Harvey pitched well Sunday night.

Hopefully today’s terrific start by Gsellman means that he definitely is back. He looked even better than his 2016 self, considering he drove in two runs, one by swinging the bat on a sac-fly.

Next: Yoenis Cespedes setback but potentially 7-10 days from returning

Gsellman’s next start will most likely come against Pittsburgh next weekend at Citi Field. Even if the returns of Matz and Lugo send Gsellman immediately to the bullpen, having a quality arm in the bullpen would be ginormous for the Mets.