Although the Mets currently feature more starting pitchers than spots available, the fact that they played two doubleheaders this past weekend forced them to dip deeper into their roster for a spot starter Tuesday in Baltimore. Their choices: Ariel Jurado, a recent trade acquisition with a 5.85 career ERA over a not-so-small two-year Major League sample, or Franklyn Kilome, a rookie with seven mottled innings of big league experience.
Turns out neither choice was ideal. Jurado put the Mets into an early hole. Then, after New York thundered back to tie the game, Kilome allowed four more runs to ice the Mets’ 9-5 loss to the Orioles at Camden Yards.
Not in the picture were any of the starting pitchers the Mets traded away or lost to waiver claims over the past two years — a list that includes Justin Dunn, Anthony Kay, Simeon Woods Richardson, Stephen Gonsalves, Jordan Humphreys and Kevin Smith.
Perhaps none of them would have made a difference on Tuesday, when Renato Núñez hit a three-run homer off Jurado in the first inning and a solo shot off Kilome in the seventh. Anthony Santander also homered and drove home three runs for the Orioles, who scored five off Jurado and four against Kilome.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to [email protected].