By Rich Mancuso/ Sports Editor
With the Mets bullpen struggles there is need for help. Though GM Brodie Van Wegeden said Saturday prior to the Mets-Cardinals game at Citi Field, “We will improve.”
Friday at Citi Field the Mets late inning bullpen, Edwin Diaz and Jeurys Familia lost both games . The first was the completion of a suspended game from Thursday night that was due to rain and lost by Diaz in the ninth inning.
Friday night, Familia gave up two home runs in the eighth inning and saw his ERA hover over .700. Mets starters have tossed at least 6.0 innings in 15 of their last 16 starts dating to May 28 with a 6-4 record and 3.38 ERA.
With that in mind the Mets announced an addition to their pitching staff. Though not a well known and one that can save the bullpen it shows that Van Wegeden is trying to make some improvements.
Here is the official announcement:
METS ACQUIRE RHP BROOKS POUNDERS FROM CLEVELAND
The New York Mets today announced that the club has acquired right-handed pitcher Brooks Pounders from the Cleveland Indians for cash considerations. Pounders will be added to the major league roster tonight. In a corresponding move, right-handed pitcher Tim Peterson has been optioned to Triple-A Syracuse. Pounders will wear #46.
Pounders, 28, has appeared in 24 games with Triple-A Columbus this year, going 2-1 with one save and a 2.31 ERA (nine earned runs/35.0 innings) with 11 walks and 46 strikeouts. Opponents were hitting .161 against him. He has appeared in 38 career major league games with the Royals, Angels and Rockies going 3-2 with an 8.92 ERA (38 earned runs/38.1 innings) with 10 walks and 42 strikeouts.
The 6-5, 265-pounder signed a minor league contract with the Cleveland Indians before the season. He was originally drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the second round of the 2009 First-Year Player Draft out of Temecula Valley High School in California.
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