A Mets concern we didn't think we'd have in 2023

We're in the month of May in the 2023 MLB Season and it is safe to say, that the New York Mets are not where they want to be. You can blame their slow start to the season on the lack of timely hitting and injuries the team has suffered but it actually has been something that we thought would be the main reason the Mets can win a championship in 2023. Their starting pitching

You can blame it on Justin Verlander's absence on the IL and Max Scherzer's suspension, but this team still has some talented arms that have not helped the Mets The Mets pitching rotation which we thought would be the team's biggest strength to help the team finally win a World Series has been anything but productive. Sure you can blame it on Justin Verlander's absence on the IL and Max Scherzer's suspension, but this team still has some talented arms that have not helped the Mets at all this season.

Why starting pitching has been the Mets biggest concern

After Jacob deGrom left the Mets in free agency for the Rangers, the Mets wasted no time fixing the big hole that he left by adding veteran Justin Verlander and Japanese star Kodai Senga to the Mets rotation in hopes they can fill the void that deGrom left. After Verlander was placed on the IL before the season started, the Mets still had some solid pieces in their rotation like Scherzer and Senga along with Carlos Carrasco and David Peterson, and Tylor Megill. But, they have not been able to help the Mets win ball games.

Scherzer has not been the ace the Mets thought he would be as he has pitched to a 5.56 ERA in his five starts and has only pitched six innings or more in one of his five starts. You can blame his struggles in his first start back from suspension against the Tigers on Wednesday due to his long absence, but he still was not sharp before his suspension which should concern Mets fans.

Another pitcher who we thought would have a breakout season after a solid spring training is lefty David Peterson. Peterson has never found consistency in the major leagues since his callup in 2020 and that trend has continued. Peterson to put it bluntly has been awful going 1-4 in his six starts with an ERA of 7.34 that resulted in him being demoted to the minors.

Other starters like Tylor Megill and Kodai Senga have been somewhat decent for the Mets helping the team pitch deep into ballgames, but they still lack consistency which for the last several seasons, Mets starting pitchers were able to do.

If there is any hope on the horizon for New York, it's that Verlander is back from injury and will make his first start to the season. We will see if his return can revive a bad Mets rotation.