3 best Mets bullpen duos of a lefty and righty in team history

2) Jesse Orosco and Roger McDowell

Orosco and McDowell did a lot more than pitch for the 1986 Mets. They also played the outfield in one game…together…shuttling back and forth from the outfield to the mound.

That really is the true definition of a tandem, isn’t it?

The lefty Orosco came to the Mets in the trade that sent Jerry Koosman home to Minnesota. He made his debut in 1979 for a cup of coffee, but came up to stay in 1981 and established himself as the closer of what was a bad Mets team. By the time the righty McDowell arrived in 1985, the Mets were up and coming and had become the free-spirited dominant team they became known for in that era.

When the Mets clinched the National League pennant and then won the World Series in 1986, the image you see is Orosco on the mound, having thrown his glove in the air, and falling to his knees in celebration…having closed out those victories. And not to take anything away from the glory of Orosco, but, believe it or not, it was McDowell who was the more effective closer during the three seasons the two worked together as the Mets lefty right duo.

Orosco and McDowell were together from 1985 through 1987. During that period Orosco pitched in 170 games and had 54 saves while McDowell made 193 appearances and saved 64 games.