MLB Mailbag: Mets, Reds, Skenes, Braves

I am pinch-hitting for Tim Dierkes on this week’s MLB Mailbag whereas he has another commitments. On this week’s installment, we’ll get into the Mets’ bullpen, the Reds’ protection and lineup, Paul Skenes’ looming arbitration eligibility, the Braves’ rotation and Jurickson Profar (amongst numerous different tangents and aspect matters).

Sandy asks:

The Mets lineup appears stable and deep and their rotation is presumably high 5. That leaves the pen and protection. The D might be common, perhaps barely beneath however serviceable. What’s your tackle their pen? Thanks!

The Mets’ bullpen is near set at this level. They’ve six starters coming into the season (Freddy Peralta, Nolan McLean, Clay Holmes, David Peterson, Sean Manaea, Kodai Senga), which leaves them seven bullpen spots. None of Devin Williams, Luke Weaver, Brooks Raley, Luis García or Bryan Hudson will be optioned. The Mets have already indicated that righty Huascar Brazobán may have a spot so long as he is wholesome, and so they comparable indicated Tobias Myers could be within the group a number of weeks in the past (earlier than Myers posted a 1.86 ERA and 12-to-4 Okay/BB ratio in his first 9 2/3 spring frames).

The one spot that is up for grabs appears to be that of Hudson. The journeyman lefty was excellent for the Brewers in 2024 however struggled within the majors each in 2023 and 2025. The Mets picked him up from the White Sox for money final month. He is pitched 2 1/3 spring innings and allowed three runs on 4 hits (one homer) and a stroll. It is not an particularly compelling exhibiting, notably when factoring in final yr’s 4.80 ERA within the majors and 5.97 mark in Triple-A.

Past Hudson, candidates for that remaining spot who’re nonetheless in main league camp embrace Richard Lovelady (who’s on the 40-man roster), Craig Kimbrel (a non-roster invitee) and maybe Austin Warren (additionally on the 40-man). There hasn’t been a lot discuss of Warren making the membership among the many Mets’ beat, and he has an possibility remaining, so he is a protracted shot. Kimbrel has allowed two runs in 5 spring innings but additionally has 5 walks, two hit batters and solely two strikeouts. The Mets appear to habitually purchase Lovelady and jettison him simply as continuously; their latest waiver declare of the southpaw was the fifth time they’ve acquired him prior to now calendar yr. They clearly like him, however not sufficient to simply give him a devoted roster spot.