SAN FRANCISCO — John Curtiss came into spring training excited about the changeup he developed while he was rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. He hasn’t been able to utilize the pitch much so far this season, but maybe the one silver lining of his demotion to Triple-A is that he can work on that pitch.
The Mets optioned Curtiss to Triple-A Syracuse on Friday afternoon, needing to make room for left-hander Joey Lucchesi on the roster. Lucchesi was needed to start in place of the injured Carlos Carrasco on Friday night in San Francisco, but the decision to send down Curtiss was somewhat strange since he has pitched well for the Mets so far this season and the Mets have other pitchers with options in the bullpen.
But the Mets landed on Curtiss and they’d like to see him work on the changeup in Syracuse.
“He had options,” manager Buck Showalter said Friday at Oracle Park. “We’re operating with 12 pitchers. We’ve probably got some other moves coming and we’re going to need another starting pitcher so somebody comes up and somebody goes back. There are a lot of different options and fortunately, he won’t be the last one.”
The Mets signed the right-hander last spring knowing they wouldn’t be able to use him until this season. Curtiss was an important part of the Tampa Bay Rays bullpen during their 2020 World Series run and the Mets viewed him as a middle-innings weapon. He started working with a changeup during his rehab since he wasn’t allowed to throw any breaking pitches early on in the process. The 30-year-old got good feedback on it during spring training and he was able to work it in during his spring outings as well. But Curtiss hasn’t thrown the pitch much yet this season.
“There are a lot of things that play in the spring and then all of the sudden you’re in the heat of the battle and you don’t want to get beat with what you consider your third pitch. Guys are a little more hesitant. You see a lot more left-handed hitters up here in the lineup. He’s got a good one, he’s just got to get confidence in it. I think that’ll help if he’s able to do that. The plan is for him to pitch on Tuesday.”
Still, the results through his first 20 games back from Tommy John have been good. Curtiss owns a 4.35 ERA over nine appearances (10 1/3 innings), however, that ERA is largely the result of only three bad innings. Curtiss went five straight games without allowing an earned run, pitching 6 1/3 innings over that span, giving up only two hits and two walks with six strikeouts.
“He’s going to be a part of what we’re doing here,” Showalter said. “I think it would be good for him to take a little breath and I know he wants to work on the changeup too and it’s hard to do that up here. I wasn’t going to use him for a day or two. Coming off some of the issues he’s had physically, he feels great, but I don’t think it hurts for him to take a little breather.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Outfielder Starling Marte was out of the lineup for the second straight night with neck stiffness. The Mets are hoping he’s available to start Saturday. Showalter wanted to use him off the bench Thursday but it wasn’t needed with the Mets scoring nine runs and running away with the series opener against the Giants.
“I’m hoping that he starts tomorrow,” Showalter said. “We’ll see how, between tonight and game time we manage it, but we think we can use him for certain things tonight.”
ON THE FARM
Shortstop Ronny Mauricio played second base for the Syracuse Mets on Friday, marking the first time that he has played anywhere other than shortstop for the Mets organization. The 22-year-old played second base in the Dominican Winter League and said it would be his preferred position should the Mets ask him to move, since he’s blocked by Francisco Lindor.However, the Mets have talked about possibly moving him to the outfield. Mark Canha will be a free agent after this season so he would have more long-term potential in left field.
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