Chris Bassitt: Next Ace Up
Right-hander's value to Mets is about to increase tenfold
Image credit: Chris Simon
With Max Scherzer and Jacob deGrom expected to be shelved through the All-Star break in July — likely the absolute best-case scenario — the New York Mets will need guys to step up. Most notably, they will need Chris Bassitt to lead this rotation.
Between him, Carlos Carrasco, Taijuan Walker, and the hopefully-soon-to-return Tylor Megill (biceps tendinitis; began playing catch Friday), this is the temporary core. Missing a stopper in Max will have its effects, but these are the breaks of 162.
Thankfully, albeit done quietly in the caverns of the Coliseum, Bassitt has worn this hat before, putting together a sparkling stretch in Oakland ahead of his trade to Queens this winter.
Over 66 appearances (63 starts) with the Athletics from 2019 through 2021 (364.1 IP), Bassitt put up a 3.26 earned run average (3.80 FIP) with 355 strikeouts, 103 walks (2.54 BB/9), and 42 home runs allowed (1.04 HR/9). Solid, if not spectacular.
Bassitt may have flown under most Mets fans’ radars before he donned the orange and blue (his first ASG nod in 2021 boosted his signal a bit), but as we’ve noticed over his first eight starts with New York, the 33-year-old is about as talented — and as tough — as they come.
“I don’t care who you are, I’m coming after you,” Bassitt told reporters after dismantling Juan Soto and the Nationals in April. “I faced Ohtani a lot. I faced Trout a lot. I don’t care about the name on the back of your jersey, I’m coming. That’s probably been my mentality no matter who I face.”
More than the Mets needed Bassitt to step into this rotation and continue doing exactly what he’s been doing in Oakland, they needed that type of attitude.
Moving forward, short a couple of very big pieces, they’ll surely need more of both.
We’ve already seen the impact an on-point Bassitt can provide. A 2.77 ERA, 49 punchouts, and 13 bases-on-balls over his first 48 2/3 innings with the Mets is truly only the tip of the iceberg with regards to how phenomenal the right-hander has been so far.
Per FanGraphs, 45.1 percent of Bassitt’s pitches this season have been in the strike zone (10th-most among MLB starters). Yet despite practically living over the plate, his 26.3% soft-contact rate (FanGraphs) and 84.5 MPH average exit velocity (Statcast) are both leading the majors.
In fact, he’s got a 2.3 MPH lead over the Marlins’ Sandy Alcantara in the EV department. That’s all mind-blowing.
With such a wide arsenal (Bassitt throws six pitches with regularity) he’s clearly got batters playing the guessing game. When you’re not a fireballer, that’s the blueprint — mix speeds, use both sides of the plate, hit spots, and be precise.
Well, there’s certainly a plan at work here somewhere. Ah yes, controlled madness. That’s it.
Toss in the curve and changeup (mixed in sparingly but still just as dastardly; .272 wOBA and .319 wOBA against, respectively) and — ah, hem — fughettaboutit.
Basically, it appears Bassitt can put any of his primary pitches wherever he wants in any situation he’s in. That’s an extremely valuable asset and once that’s kept hitters mostly off-kilter this year.
All involved can only hope that Bassitt’s keep-em’-guessing-and-sit-’em-down trend continues. The Mets are gonna need it.
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On point. How much these guys can hold it together through June could determine the whole season. It's a pretty great group of ballplayers. Ya gotta believe. (yup, loved me some Tug McGraw)