April showers did not bring the Mets May flowers. The blue and orange have struggled during the month of May, sitting at 6-16 during the year’s fifth month and entering Sunday’s series finale against the San Francisco Giants.
One of the many reasons for the Mets’ recent shortcomings has been the struggles of their starting rotation. The blue and orange’s starting ERA ranks 12th in the National League (4.50) and 23rd in the major leagues. Now, one of the starters who has struggled the most is heading to the bullpen.
Adrian Houser is heading back to the bullpen
According to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com, the Mets have demoted Adrian Houser back to the bullpen.
Houser came to the blue and orange this past offseason alongside Tyrone Taylor in exchange for pitching prospect Coleman Crow but has struggled to find his groove in New York.
The Oklahoma native has pitched 37.2 innings across nine appearances, seven of which were starts to a 7.88 ERA with a 1.779 WHIP and struck out 21.
Who’s taking Houser’s spot in the rotation?
Taking Houser’s turn in the rotation will be the returning David Peterson. Peterson has been working his way back from off-season hip surgery to repair a damaged labrum in his left hip and has been dealing during his minor league rehab stint.
Through six starts, the California native has pitched 23.2 innings to a 2.79 ERA and 0.930 WHIP with 35 strikeouts. Peterson will make his season debut on Wednesday when the Mets welcome the Dodgers to Citi Field.
What does this mean for the Mets?
The Mets hope moving Houser back to the bullpen will allow the 31-year-old to regain some confidence. Houser had been demoted to the bullpen earlier this month. He was pretty effective, going two innings in each outing and allowing just one earned run before getting shelled against the Guardians in his return to the rotation.
Perhaps spending some more time in the bullpen will allow Houser to get things right, but if he continues to struggle his time with the Mets may be coming to an unceremonious end.