Adam Ottavino – 2023 Mets relief pitcher grade
1st Half Stats: 36.1 IP, 39 games, 0-3, 3.72 ERA, 38 K, 17 BB, 112 ERA+, 6 saves, 10 holds
Adam Ottavino deserves a bit of credit here for how he closed out the first half. He was quite inconsistent during the first two months of the season before turning things around over the last six weeks. He made the adjustment to the new pitch clock rules and has done very well since, although the walks are still too much.
Ottavino’s sinker and sweeper pitches continue to remain effective, though not at the incredible rates they were last year. Nonetheless, he’s been getting the job done despite a dip in velocity from last year. Ottavino is poised for a strong second half in Queens… or elsewhere.
Grade: B+
Brooks Raley – 2023 Mets relief pitcher grade
1st Half Stats: 31.1 IP, 38 games, 1-1, 2.30 ERA, 34 K, 12 BB, 182 ERA+, .179 average vs. righties
The best move of the offseason was absolutely the Mets acquiring Brooks Raley from the Tampa Bay Rays in a trade last December. Raley came off an outstanding season with the Rays and he was even better in the first half for the Mets, as he has been the dynamite and effective lefty Joely Rodriguez never was.
Raley continues to induce soft contact, especially on his sinker and cutter, and has kept hitters off balance while strategically attacking the strike zone, especially since he came off the injured list in mid-May. Speaking of coming of the injured list, he’s allowed just two earned runs in 20.0 innings since his return, and like Ottavino, he’s primed for a big second half.
Grade: A