3) The Mets bullpen is good and Mendoza knows how to use it
What’s shaping up to be the backbone of this team, the Mets’ bullpen, opened the 2025 season by tossing 10 1/3 scoreless innings. With arms that can neutralize both lefties and righties, Carlos Mendoza has been pushing the right buttons, and his relievers have answered every call.
Aside from a few moments in the Miami series, they were lights out: Max Kranick, the feel-good story of spring training, gave the bullpen a breather with three scoreless (and hitless) innings in Game 2. Huascar Brazobán followed that up with 2 2/3 innings of one-hit, three-strikeout relief. José Butto delivered two clutch, scoreless frames late in game 3 of the series. And finally, Garrett and Díaz combined for 2 1/3 innings, navigating some traffic but doing their part to help secure the Mets' series-clinching win.
AJ Minter had a rough outing in Game 3, but his track record says exactly where he’ll be by season’s end. And let’s not forget Dedniel Núñez, who put up elite numbers in 2024 and is working his way back in Triple-A. It's only a matter of time before he's with the club and making his presence felt. It’s early, but one thing is already clear—Mendoza has the pulse of this bullpen and knows exactly when to call their number.