Adrian Houser didn’t quite start his Mets career as hoped.
The veteran right-hander began the season at the backend of the starting rotation, but he struggled to the tune of a 8.16 ERA and 1.85 WHIP with 16 strikeouts and 20 walks over his first six starts.
With top prospect Christian Scott thriving in the minors, some of the depth options getting healthy, and his struggles continuing the team decided it was time to make a change.
But instead of just cutting Houser loose, the front office decided to hold onto him and bump him to the bullpen to regain some confidence, and he has certainly done just that.
After recording another strong showing in Wednesday's win over the Yankees, the 31-year-old has now pitched to a 1.46 ERA and 1.19 WHIP, and he's gone two or more innings in six of his 10 appearances.
Houser stepped up tremendously for the shorthanded Mets bullpen, keeping the Bombers off the board over the final three innings of the victory, and securing the first save of his career.
“He’s been huge,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said postgame. “Not only has he been giving us length but he’s been throwing the baseball really well as well, which we saw again tonight with the two-seam changeup and the breaking ball.
“He’s staying on the attack and getting big outs for us. It was huge for him to give us the last three innings. Every time he’s taken the ball he’s given us multiple innings and he’s showing that he can get righties and lefties out and keep us in games, so that’s a good weapon to have.”
Houser's certainly been phenomenal, but he's been particularly strong of late, allowing just three runs (two earned) across six appearances during the Mets' incredible turnaround in June.
While the success may come as a surprise to the fans in Flushing, those familiar with the former second-round pick like David Stearns, certainly know this is what he's been capable of all along.
Houser thrived when used in a bullpen role during his eight seasons with Stearns and the Milwaukee Brewers, pitching to a 1.73 ERA and 1.16 WHIP across 41 appearances.
So after being acquired in an offseason deal and getting off to a rough start, it's nice to finally see him carve out a role and finally find that kind of success in the Big Apple.