1 reliever the Mets need to use differently

This offseason, the New York Mets let their best reliever last season, Aaron Loup, sign with the Angels on a multi-year deal. This left a gaping hole in the bullpen as they had no other left handed relievers.

With that in mind, the Mets traded Miguel Castro for Joely Rodriguez. This wasn't a deal I was a fan of at all, but it has looked alright so far. Along with that trade, the Mets signed Chasen Shreve to a minor league deal.

Shreve spent the shortened 2020 season with the Mets and was really solid, holding left-handed hitters to a .500 OPS. Last season Shreve was with the Pirates and held lefties to a .633 OPS in 104 plate appearances while holding right-handed hitters to a .719 OPS in 131 plate appearances.

The Mets need to use Shreve in higher leverage situations and more often.

So far this season, Shreve has been used sparingly. He has made just five appearances in the month of May, two of which came in the second game of double headers because other arms were used before him.

This came after Shreve allowed just two runs in nine appearances in the month of April. He has struggled in his last couple of appearances, probably because he has been used so sparingly.

Joely Rodriguez got off to a rough start as a Met but has settled in. The way he performed last season as well as at the beginning of this season against left-handed hitters makes me think he should be the primary left-handed reliever. However, Shreve seems to be the more well-rounded reliever and is more suited for the three batter rule.

Buck Showalter doesn't seem to have any confidence in Shreve as he turned to Adam Ottavino on a third straight day instead of a fresh Shreve in what ended up being a loss against the Braves. Even someone like Colin Holderman, who was just called up recently, seems to be higher up on the hierarchy than Shreve. Holderman has looked impressive, but that doesn't really make sense to me.

The Mets have two effective left handed relievers in Shreve and Rodriguez which is a good thing. With more usage I expect Shreve to be more effective as he was in April.