Rangers Bolster Aged Pitching Staff With Merrill Kelly Acquisition

The Texas Rangers have built a surprisingly strong pitching rotation centered on veteran arms, including Jacob deGrom, Nathan Eovaldi, Patrick Corbin, and newly acquired Merrill Kelly, combining for the best team ERA in MLB despite their advanced ages. This approach mirrors past successful teams with older pitching staffs, emphasizing present-day competitiveness. Meanwhile, the New York Mets face significant struggles in their rotation following injuries to key starters Kodai Senga, Tylor Megill, and Griffin Canning, leading to a reliance on an overtaxed bullpen and diminished starting performances. Veteran pitcher Frankie Montas has been particularly ineffective since returning from injury, posting a high ERA and inconsistent command, raising concerns about his role as the Mets chase the division-leading Philadelphia Phillies. Mets insiders suggest promoting promising young pitchers Brandon Sproat and Nolan McLean from the minors, emphasizing the need for reliable five-inning starts to stabilize the rotation. The Mets’ offensive struggles, combined with rotation woes, underscore a challenging path forward as they seek to maintain playoff contention.