Corey Oswalt pitches way into Mets' fifth starter conversation: 'He's got the poise and he's got the stuff'

Mets RHP Corey Oswalt received the loss, but an otherwise solid outing in a spot start against the Yankees could give manager Luis Rojas a fifth starter to consider.

After a doubleheader-splitting 4-2 defeat Sunday at Yankee Stadium, Rojas was asked about Oswalt's potential as a starter in the Mets rotation and answered honestly.

"He could be right now," Rojas said of Oswalt (1-1, 3.48 ERA). "We have different guys that we can talk about and definitely Corey is one of them. He's got the poise. He's got some experience now. This kid has been doing this -- for, I think, three years now with this one -- where he comes up and helps. And at this point, he's got the experience to come in.

"I mean, you guys saw him. He's pitching in Yankee Stadium and with an almost-full house. I don't know the exact capacity. He's just facing those guys and throwing strikes and attacking them and not shying away from it. So he's got the poise and he's got the stuff ... to probably be in one of those spots."

In four innings, Oswalt yielded as many hits -- the difference-maker a three-run home run by Gio Urshela into the short porch -- while striking out four and walking one on 65 pitches (42 strikes). The 27-year-old Oswalt's previous outing June 27, a scoreless four innings of relief in a 4-2 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies, saw him scatter four hits while fanning four over 52 pitches (39 strikes).

"I'm just going to do what the team asks, whether that be starting or bullpen," Oswalt said. "I feel good with where my stuff is right now and whatever the team needs, I'll fill that role."