The Mets left the door open for Jose Butto to move back into the rotation, but manager Carlos Mendoza said after Monday’s win that there are no plans for an imminent change in the right-hander’s role.
“Obviously it’s a decision that we have to make there,” Mendoza said after New York’s 15-2 shellacking of the Minnesota Twins at Citi Field.
The question came about because Butto pitched the final three innings after entering a game the Mets already led by 10 runs. Mendoza explained that part of the decision came about because of where they were at bullpen-wise as well as looking to keep the reliever stretched out if he needs to make a start in the near future.
“We’ve been running those guys and honestly we were like four guys short today,” the skipper said. “And we saw an opportunity here for him to continue to keep him stretched out somehow and give the bullpen a blow.”
“He did a hell of a job. He went out there, threw strikes and was able to finish the game.”
After Jose Quintana allowed just one run on five hits in the first six innings, Butto held the visitors over the final three innings – earning a save in the lopsided game – by allowing just one run on four hits with a walk and two strikeouts on 44 pitches (27 strikes).
Mendoza elaborated that Butto coming back to the rotation “doesn’t necessarily have to be next time through the rotation,” and stretching out the right-hander gives the Mets more options down the line.
“If somehow we get in a bind and we need him to make a start, we can feel comfortable with him going – I don’t know – 70 pitches now,” the manager said. “Because 40 the last time he pitched, 40-something again today with three ups, we will feel a little bit better with him [starting] if we need to.”
Butto has now allowed just two earned runs on 17 hits in 16.2 innings over eight relief appearances in July since his call-up from Triple-A Syracuse but is fine with whatever role the Mets put him in.
“Always I said like, if the team wants me to be a starter, I’m gonna be a starter,” he said. “I just wanna be here and help the team.”
The 26-year-old said all he would have to do to be ready to make a start is alter his routine.
"I'm just gonna be ready, healthy, and when I get the ball try to do my job,” he said.
For now, Mendoza said that Tylor Megill is in line to make the next start. But that could change as could Butto’s hypothetical move back to the rotation as things hinge on what happens ahead of the 6 p.m. EDT trade deadline.
“That’s part of the conversations,” Mendoza said. “I thought it was important to keep his pitch count up, so, we’ll see what happens here.”
He added: “We’re comfortable keeping the pitch count up. That doesn’t mean he’s gonna go next time around right into the rotation.”