Robert Stock impresses in first start since 2021, but Mets lose to Sandy Alcantara, Marlins
· Yahoo Sports
Stock is up for Robert Stock.
The Mets’ pre-trade-deadline rotation shuffling created an unexpected opportunity for Stock, a 36-year-old right-hander, to make his first MLB start since 2021.
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Stock was sharp in Sunday afternoon’s 2-0 loss to the Miami Marlins at Citi Field, allowing one run over five innings with four strikeouts.
A fifth-inning solo home run by Joe Mack accounted for the only damage against Stock, who limited Miami to three hits without a walk over 70 pitches.
Stock took a hard-luck loss, however, as Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara (6-plus innings) and the Miami bullpen shut out the Mets (47-66) to take three out of four in Queens.
The Mets, who are among MLB’s most active sellers, kept their rotation plans fluid throughout the weekend in the lead-up to Monday’s 6 p.m. trade deadline.
They scratched right-hander Freddy Peralta from his scheduled start on Friday night, then traded him to the Tampa Bay Rays for three minor-league prospects on Sunday.
Clay Holmes (fibula fracture) could have been activated from the injured list to start Sunday. But as trade rumors continued to swirl around the veteran right-hander, the Mets opted to have Holmes make another rehab start Sunday with High-A Brooklyn, where he allowed three runs in 5.1 innings on 73 pitches.
That led to an opening for Stock, whom the Mets called up from Triple-A Syracuse before Sunday’s game.
Stock made his MLB debut for the San Diego Padres in 2018. Since then, he’s also pitched in the majors for the Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs; professionally in Korea and Mexico; and for the independent-league New Jersey Jackals and Long Island Ducks.
Entering Sunday, Stock was 2-4 with a 4.90 ERA over 57 major-league appearances, including three starts. His previous MLB outing in any capacity came last year with the Boston Red Sox, with whom he made two relief appearances.
“I’ve had him in three places now,” said Mets interim manager Andy Green, who was the Padres manager from 2016-19 and the Cubs bench coach from 2020-23.
“He made his debut under me in San Diego as a reliever who threw 100 [mph], and he’s reinvented himself into a sidearm starter. Nine years later, and he’s still pitching. It’s impressive, frankly.”
This is Stock’s second stint with the Mets, as he also started two games for them in 2021, pitching to a 5.40 ERA.
Stock, who rejoined the Mets in November on a minor-league contract, has leaned heavily into analytics to extend his career, including using artificial intelligence to help build a pitching analytics platform called Stockyard Baseball.
In March, Stock was diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome after pitching for Team Israel at the World Baseball Classic, resulting in a surgery recommendation.
He began a rehab assignment in June and has totaled eight minor-league appearances (six starts) this season, pitching to a 2.91 ERA with 31 strikeouts in 21.2 innings with High-A Brooklyn and Triple-A Syracuse.
Stock threw five different types of pitches during Sunday’s outing, including a four-seam fastball that averaged 96.3 mph.
“[He is a] very forward-thinking guy,” Green said. “Began to learn what pitches played and what angles played, dropped his arm slot down, evolved.”
MISSED CHANCESThe Mets squandered multiple prime scoring opportunities late in Sunday’s game.
After loading the bases with no outs in the seventh, the Mets couldn’t break through against reliever Michael Petersen. Jorge Polanco and Francisco Alvarez both struck out before A.J. Ewing grounded out, maintaining a 1-0 Marlins lead.
That remained the score when the Mets failed to capitalize on Francisco Lindor’s double to lead off the eighth.
In the ninth, Ewing flew out with two men on base for the final out against Pete Fairbanks.
BROOKS AND DONE?Brooks Raley, one of the Mets’ top trade candidates, pitched a 1-2-3 sixth inning Sunday in what could be his final appearance with the team.
The left-handed reliever, who is an impending free agent, boasts a 1.96 ERA this year.
Right-handed relievers Luke Weaver and Huascar Brazobán — both of whom remain under team control beyond this season — also pitched a scoreless inning apiece. Both have been the subject of trade rumors, too.
ROSTER MOVESMJ Melendez was one of several Mets designated for assignment on Sunday.
Melendez hit .192 with four home runs in 56 games with the Mets, but the 27-year-old outfielder had been at Triple-A since late June.
The Mets also DFA’d relievers Kevin Herget and Joey Gerber while claiming catcher Shawn Ross off waivers from the Pittsburgh Pirates.