The Mets trade deadline deal helping most in the playoffs is no surprise

How much does experience matter? A fib here or there on your resume about your software proficiencies can be overlooked. Every single pitch in baseball is tracked which means you can’t get away with anything since it is all recorded. It can work to the benefit of some. It should be one of the main reasons why the New York Mets made Ryne Stanek a target of theirs at the trade deadline.

Stanek has now pitched in the postseason every year since 2020. It began as a member of the Miami Marlins then took him through three tours as a member of the Houston Astros. So far with the Mets, he has been one of the most trustworthy options for Carlos Mendoza. The only run to cross the plate against him was in the 9th inning in their 6-2 win over the Philadelphia Phillies during Game 1.

The Mets trade deadline was light but we’d expect more than just Stanek to be a big part of the team’s success. He’s one of just three players acquired via trade in July on the playoff roster. Phil Maton (an early July addition) and Jesse Winker are the others. Winker has had a very good postseason. However, it's Stanek whose presence has made the larger difference because of how many have fizzled around him in relief.

We shouldn’t be surprised to see Ryne Stanek pitch this well for the Mets

Stanek had one of his weakest seasons in 2024. A 4.38 ERA with the Seattle Mariners where everyone pitches well followed up by a 6.06 ERA with the Mets where—okay we can’t say the same—helped combine to give him a 4.88 ERA on the season. But ERA isn’t everything. He struck out 67 in 55.1 innings. His 4.1 walks per 9 was actually below the 4.5 per 9 in his career.

Playoff Stanek is a different breed. It was in 2021 when he was an essential part of the Houston pitching staff. Used often, he tossed a combined 11 innings and gave up 3 earned runs.

The entire playoff picture for Stanek now includes a perfect 3-0 record, 2.45 ERA, and a magnificent 0.77 WHIP. Numbers for a reliever in such a small sample can sway with one swing against them. The most appealing part about Stanek is how he has been able to keep cool and not look like just another arm in the bullpen.

Out of the four remaining teams in the MLB playoffs, the Mets bullpen seems to get the least attention. It’s because they’re not built around it. The 3.82 ERA in the postseason is a bit skewed because of Game 1 against the Los Angeles Dodgers. It’s still at a decent 3.82 which in most circumstances would be acceptable. In the playoffs, it ranks 9th among 12 teams.

Stanek has successfully surpassed Maton and Jose Butto as the perceived best option before Edwin Diaz in relief. In the playoffs when anyone can be called upon at any time, it helps to have a guy who has done this before so many times.