Mets starting rotation is good but the depth is worth appreciating

Jacob deGrom, Max Scherzer, Chris Bassitt, and some combination of Carlos Carrasco and Taijuan Walker going in either order will make up the New York Mets starting rotation in 2022.

It’s good. It’s better than good. Grand? Gooder?

However you want to describe this five-man group, the Mets have arguably the best rotation in the game leading into the start of the season. Two aces at the top followed by three recent All-Star-caliber arms will help them win a lot of games. As sweet as they are together, it’s not what should have you smiling most about the starting pitching situation.

A little praise for the New York Mets starting pitching depth

Starting pitching depth might not be the most thrilling of topics to talk about. You have to be a real baseball geek to have any thoughts on the subject. It’s like when data people get a little perkier when they can start discussing a new feature in Excel.

Call me crazy but I really like the Mets starting pitching depth this year. I know it’s like falling in love with an older pet rat. There are certain things you shouldn’t put your heart into because you know it’ll just get broken.

Tylor Megill and David Peterson are good pitchers. They have performed well at the major league level. When you look around the league, you could make a case that they could be starting on a lot of other clubs.

Megill and Peterson are best used this year as depth for the Mets. They should get their opportunities one way or another. Even if they ultimately see most of their appearances out of the bullpen, we are going to see them this year.

Beyond those two, the Mets have a slew of pitchers without any big league experience. Josh Walker, Connor Grey, and Cole Gordon are three of the lesser prospects who could push their way into the conversation the same way Megill did last year. More well-known, there’s Jose Butto. We shouldn’t expect them all to become big parts of the rotation at any point. If even one of them becomes a competent big league pitcher, we should consider it a success.

Also worth mentioning are a pair of veterans who were new to the team last year. Jordan Yamamoto and Trevor Williams are back. Yamamoto is more likely to begin the year in Triple-A. Williams will work as a long man out of the bullpen. Williams could even see himself getting a few starts on short notice where it is expected that he gives the Mets about three innings.

The top-shelf starters the Mets will put on the field this year are great. There’s also nothing wrong with appreciating the ones that come in a box.