Mets depth chart: 2 players moving up, 2 moving down

Jose Quintana is moving up the Mets depth chart

Where are we with Jose Quintana? It was debatable who would get this spot. Sean Manaea has pitched well of late and seems to have a greater ceiling than Manaea. However, if we want to look at the last 5 starts, the Mets haven’t had a better starting pitcher on the roster than Quintana.

Over those last 5 starts, Quintana is 2-0 with a 2.00 ERA. Luis Severino has logged more innings over that same stretch but it’s Quintana right behind him at 27 innings. In fact, the four Mets starters who have taken the mound most are all about even when it comes to innings. The average is only a tad over 5 innings per start. In 2024, you take it with a smile.

A lot of Quintana’s recent success comes from cutting down on the home runs. He has given up just 2 in his last 27 innings. His work with Francisco Alvarez cannot be understated. He is a completely different pitcher when Alvy is behind the dish.

Quintana, Severino, and Manaea seem to ping pong around the depth chart. Only maybe because Quintana reminds some of us a little too much of Carlos Carrasco does he get overlooked at times. Some lucky breaks with umpires whose strike zones you could parallel park in with your eyes closed aside, Quintana has been a clever pitcher more than an overpowering one. Whatever works!