Christian Scott worked on finding ‘new way to get outs’ before Mets return
WASHINGTON — Christian Scott was told by Mets officials not to worry when he was optioned back to Triple-A Syracuse on May 30 because he would be back with the major league team sooner rather than later.
Sooner arrived on Tuesday, with the right-hander rejoining the Mets ahead of his scheduled start against the Nationals.
The Mets will officially recall Scott on Wednesday and subtract a reliever.
The organization’s top pitching prospect was a hit in his first stint with the team, pitching to a 3.90 ERA in five starts, which included a dominant major league debut at Tampa Bay on May 4 in which he allowed one earned run over 6 ²/₃ innings.
In the month he spent back with Syracuse the 25-year-old worked on small adjustments.
“I was sharpening up the offspeed stuff and working in the top of the strike zone and just trying to be real consistent overall with my approach with right-handed and left-handed hitters,” Scott said at Nationals Park. “I am just trying to find a new way to get outs to win ballgames.”
The Mets originally toyed with a six-man rotation that included Scott, but in need of bullpen help following Edwin Diaz’s sticky substance suspension, which runs through Friday, chose to option Tylor Megill to Syracuse following his Sunday start.
Scott could be in position to start three games before the All-Star break.
Scott has averaged 94.3 mph with his four-seam fastball and complemented it with a sweeper, slider and splitter.
His success has included walking only six batters in 27 ²/₃ innings.
“We know his stuff is real, but he’s not afraid — the moment is not too big for him,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “And especially when he’s not at his best he’s still going to compete and give you everything he’s got. For a pitcher his age, when he first got called up, it was good to see that.”
Scott has pitched 70 innings this season, combined between Syracuse and the Mets.
Last season he pitched a career-high 87 ²/₃ innings, but Mendoza said there isn’t a cap in place for Scott.
Even so, team officials will be cognizant of his workload to ensure he can get through the season.
“I have never been over 90 innings in pro ball so that is the next step for me, being able to compete and have a long season and continue to stay healthy and put myself and my body in the best position I can,” Scott said. “But for now we’ll roll with it.”
Mendoza said he will lean heavily on the team’s performance staff to guide him.
“We are always measuring these guys and making sure they are bouncing back and how they are responding after each outing,” Mendoza said.
The Mets are hopeful Kodai Senga will return after the All-Star break, and would shift to a six-man rotation as needed to give the Japanese right-hander extra rest between starts. Senga is scheduled to pitch in his first minor league rehab game Wednesday, putting him on the clock to be activated within the next 30 days if there isn’t a setback.
Scott’s goal is to simply give the Mets their best chance at reaching the postseason.
“I am going to pitch my heart out and give the Mets everything I have got,” Scott said.
