Mets starting pitchers showed how much innings from them matter

Three New York Mets starting pitchers tossed more innings than they ever have during the 2019 season. It’s a big reason why the team finished where it did.

Among the New York Mets starting pitchers who have been with the team all season long, the only one who didn’t reach a new personal best in innings pitched was Jacob deGrom. His 217 innings pitched from 2018 was tough to match. This takes nothing away from everything he did do this year in his attempt to keep the National League Cy Young Award. We’ll see if he does.

Fortunately, the other three were able to record more outs than ever before. Steven Matz, Noah Syndergaard, and Zack Wheeler each finished 2019 with more innings logged on their shoulders and elbows than ever before.

Take a look at the standings. A big reason why the Mets finished where they did is because they didn’t have to go to minor league starters all too often. A healthy year from these four ensured we saw a lot less of Walker Lockett.

Coming into the season, health was a major concern for all three of these men. We know Syndergaard and Wheeler have the stuff to be among the best in the league. Matz, while a lesser pitcher, still fills out nicely as a back-of-the-rotation arm. He’s also currently the lone lefty they can put on the mound start a game.

Syndergaard and Wheeler both fell one start shy of reaching 200 innings for the first time in their career. Syndergaard’s 197.2 frames bested his previous high of 183.2 from 2016. As for Wheeler, he knocked off his career-high of 185.1 by 10, finishing with 195.1 innings pitched.

Matz, meanwhile, tossed 160.1 innings. In 2018, he set a new best with 154. By just one or two starts, he and the others made a major difference. Because they all did it together, the team benefitted even greater.

Although the results of these extra innings didn’t pay off with a postseason appearance, there’s a lesson to learn. Innings from your starting pitchers matter. The numbers of starts and the length they last in games can help you play meaningful baseball late into September.

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Next year, with maybe an extra few frames, maybe these Mets starters can put the team over the edge.