Most of the time, the transition from starter to substitute is difficult, but lately Mets right-handed José Butto has done everything it can to dispel that narrative.
Butto has been absolutely spectacular for Carlos Mendozasince being recalled from Triple-A Syracuse, getting big outs and providing much-needed length to an otherwise shaky bullpen.
Heading into Thursday’s series opener against the Braves, the youngster allowed just one earned run and three hits while walking five and striking out 13 batters in his first 10.2 innings as a reliever.
He was spectacular once again in this one, as he pitched three more perfect innings and struck out four in relief of the starter Luis Severino before the Mets eventually I walked things at the end of the tenth.
“I feel really good right now,” he told reporters after the game. “I feel very confident, my mind is ready to go and I’m getting ready for the game and I just want to win, that’s all I’m thinking about right now.”
Butto was fantastic and as Severino said afterward, the Mets won tonight “because of him.”
Most impressively, the youngster showed tremendous poise and confidence as he clawed his way through a two-and-out draw in a tied game in the top of the sixth, in relief of the right-handed starter.
That trait is quickly earning the 26-year-old a place in Mendoza’s circle of trust.
“He was incredible again,” said the captain. “I think the most important thing for me is his ability to slow down the game especially when there is traffic on the bases, I think this is the second time I have brought him with runners. Just be aware of where we are in the game, who the hitter is, and not give in when he falls behind in the count.
“We saw this with [Eddie] Rosary, he latched onto the changeup and made him chase and then continued to execute pitches and got out of the inning, then came back and continued on the attack. It’s just the ability to slow down the game, the situation doesn’t seem to be too big for him.”
Including tonight’s start, Butto has now pitched to a stellar 0.66 ERA and a 0.75 WHIP while striking out 35 percent of the batters he’s faced in his first seven appearances out of the bullpen.
With the best prospect Christian Scott landing on the injured list, some called for him to return to the rotation instead of Tylor Megillbut right now he is simply too valuable to this team in his current role.
Butto transitioned to the bullpen with ease and, as Francisco Lindor said, he has a big reason why New York was able to turn things around and get back into the middle of the National League Wild Card race.
“He doesn’t say no, he just goes out there and does what he does day in and day out,” Lindor said.To have a successful season, we need to have guys like him, and him stepping up what he does has put us in a place where we look like a really good team.”
