New York Mets: Three Michael Wacha predictions for 2020

Michael Wacha is a bit of a wild card for the 2020 New York Mets. That won’t stop me from making some predictions for how his year goes.

One of the newest members of the New York Mets, Michael Wacha, has plenty of incentive to perform well in 2020. The more he pitches and the better he does, the fatter his wallet will get.

Wacha’s exact role with the Mets this season could change. Depending on injuries and the performance of him and others, he could find himself starting more than relieving.

In what may end up as Wacha’s lone year in New York, I’m predicting a mix of good and bad from the veteran righty.

Wacha has only a small number of starts

What’s small? Small to me is no more than seven. I suppose, in a way, this is a positive Mets prediction because it means the starting rotation will stay relatively healthy.

Wacha’s own health is a question and I do think he’ll land on the IL for even a short period. For the sake of his bank account, he’ll want to hope it doesn’t happen when someone else is out, too.

Wacha is the man the Mets will turn to whenever they need a solution to fill in for an injured starter. He’s a fine choice and will serve this purpose well.

Something we have to consider is how rested Wacha is. If the Mets need to skip a start from someone or place a member of the rotation on the IL a few days after his most recent start, Wacha may not be ready to go because he has already pitched in relief. He’ll benefit more from extended absences when he can have a chance to stretch his arm out a little more.

I’m going to think positively. Wacha’s 2020 season will include only a few starts.

Wacha becomes more “Lugo” than Lugo

Seth Lugo’s role over the last two seasons has been the multi-inning threat out of the bullpen. This year, I think the way he’s used could slightly change.

Lugo can go two innings in a night. A benefit of Wacha and his history of starting could mean we see him go three or even four frames when needed.

Both of these ex-starters are nice weapons to have in relief. In the time when Lugo has become LuGoat, I think we’ve also seen how much deadlier he can perform if it’s just one frame. This could even give him an opportunity to become available with less rest in between appearances.

Depending on how the expected setup men perform will go a long way into determining how the bullpen lines up. Lugo may end up as more of a setup man than anything else. If so, Wacha’s role as a long reliever who shows up in close games could grow.

A major difference between Lugo “Lugo’ing” and Wacha are the results. I don’t foresee Wacha having the same level of dominance. He might be a productive member of the relief corps, but to expect elite numbers like Lugo has posted is asking too much.

Instead, I see Wacha’s strikeout rate going up only slightly and his ERA hovering somewhere in the mid-3.00s at best. He’ll have an adjustment period at some point when he’s pitching more than every fifth day.

As long as he’s not bouncing in and out of the rotation, time will allow him to become accustomed to his new role with the Mets.