LOS ANGELES — Edwin Díaz’s recent performances have been reassuring for the Mets, but the team’s most reliable reliever at preventing runs has been working with somewhat less spotlight this season.
That reliever is Reed Garrett, whose rising strikeout numbers are boosting his significance to a bullpen that started Monday ranked second in MLB with a 2.84 ERA.
Garrett on Sunday extended to an eighth straight appearance without a run allowed by pitching a scoreless eighth inning against the Rockies.
The right-hander owned a 0.70 ERA in 26 appearances this season as the Mets opened a four-game series against the Dodgers on Monday.
What’s worked for Garrett?
A little bit of everything in an arsenal that includes a cutter, sinker, sweeper, four-seam fastball and splitter.
Garrett has relied mostly on the cutter, throwing it 32.8 percent of the time this season, but his other pitches can’t be overlooked.
“When you have 97, 98 [mph] velocity and can toss sinkers, cutters, the sweeper, and the split, that’s not an easy at-bat,” manager Carlos Mendoza remarked. “When he is around the strike zone, he challenges hitters and is becoming a crucial part of the bullpen. He’s capable of pitching multiple innings, offering versatility and much to admire.”
Garrett, 32, emerged as a significant bullpen piece for the Mets last season, when he pitched to a 3.77 ERA in 53 appearances.
Most of Garrett’s best work occurred early in the season, but he began increasing his cutter usage later, allowing him to regain much of his mojo for the stretch run.
It was the first full season in the big leagues for Garrett, whose previous career high for appearances was 13, with the Tigers in 2019.
“I learned a lot about how to prepare and just trust yourself and not putting so much pressure on practice,” Garrett said. “If I am myself, and not anything more or less, then I am going to have success. I think it took me a minute to realize that.
“And then getting the opportunity to pitch in the playoffs, in situations in big spots, and throw them all really well, I feel like that gave me the momentum going into the offseason to continue to build on it.”
Over his past 7 ²/₃ innings, Garrett has posted 12 strikeouts.
Over that stretch he walked only two batters.
Walks have been a concern for Garrett, whose walk percentage of 12.5 percent ranks only in MLB’s ninth percentile.
But Garrett is striking out 28.8 percent of batters, placing him in the 83rd percentile.
His average fastball velocity of 96.8 mph ranks in the 87th percentile.
Garrett’s near abandonment of his four-seam fastball has been a large component of his success, according to pitching coach Jeremy Hefner.
“He’s throwing more sinkers, limiting the damage, and his cutter has improved,” Hefner said.
Garrett cited his pregame preparation as a significant component to his success and that of the entire bullpen.
Díaz, Garrett, Huascar Brazobán have been the primary weapons, but Ryne Stanek, José Buttó and Max Kranick, among others, have successfully absorbed important innings.
“One through eight, everybody down there is nasty, so just be able to trust your stuff,” Garrett said. “I feel like the organization has done a great job of providing us the information of why we’re good and we’re using that information of why we’re good to go into the game and trust that, ‘Hey, I am going to go into the game and trust these pitches because they are good.’ ”
