New York Post

WASHINGTON — Corey Oswalt might rank as the Mets’ eighth-best starting pitcher, but his flashes of respectability this season have served a purpose, allowing manager Mickey Callaway to keep Seth Lugo and Robert Gsellman in the bullpen. The rookie Oswalt again showed his value Saturday, but his teammates went belly-flopping into the Potomac in a...

What has 138 starts, a 3.29 ERA and averages better than a strikeout an inning? Moment to think about it. Answer: The combined 2018 rotation work of Jacob deGrom, Steven Matz, Noah Syndergaard, Zack Wheeler and Matt Harvey. If told in March those would be the totals, a Mets fan would have cleared out October...

WASHINGTON — The debate over whether to maintain the current starting rotation or trade pieces to address weaknesses isn’t settled, but the Mets lately have made a case for keeping the unit intact. A team clobbered by injuries early this season that was buried in the NL pennant race before midseason, entered Friday 39-34 since...

WASHINGTON — Jacob deGrom had a gift waiting for him behind home plate as he walked to the mound to face the Nationals on Friday. His favorite catcher was back. Devin Mesoraco, who had been sidelined for the previous 2½ weeks with a bulging disk in his back, returned behind the plate, perhaps an extra...

WASHINGTON — Jacob deGrom’s season and chase for the Cy Young Award now likely consist of one last start that could remove some of the stigma surrounding his candidacy. Based on Friday’s result — a 4-2 win over the Nationals in which deGrom received his first win in more than a month — the Mets’...

WASHINGTON — Dominic Smith smiles to hide the frustration when his lost season is mentioned. This was supposed to be the year the Mets discovered if their top pick in the 2013 draft was a viable major league player who could potentially secure first base for the next several seasons and provide a dependable left-handed...

WASHINGTON — Max Scherzer’s résumé for the NL Cy Young award will have plenty of shiny adornments, but 20 wins won’t be among them. The Mets may have aided teammate Jacob deGrom’s own chase for the prize by bumping up Scherzer’s ERA on Thursday and keeping the Nationals ace stuck at 17 wins with two...

WASHINGTON — Wilmer Flores’ season is finished prematurely, after he was diagnosed Thursday with early onset arthritis in both knees. The Mets infielder had returned to New York a night earlier for an examination of the knees, which he indicated had been bothering him for “a while.” Flores is expected to receive an injection in...

PHILADELPHIA — Wilmer Flores’ barking knees prompted him to take a surprise detour to New York on Wednesday. The Mets infielder dressed and departed Citizens Bank Park before first pitch against the Phillies, and is expected to be examined on Thursday at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan. Flores indicated his knees — particularly...

PHILADELPHIA — If losing is a disease, the Mets over the last decade have largely been malaria. With Wednesday’s 4-0 loss to the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park, the Mets (70-82) were guaranteed an eighth losing season in 10 years, matching the worst such stretch in franchise history. Noah Syndergaard was flat over four innings,...

PHILADELPHIA — It’s Zack to the future for the No. 2 component of the Mets’ talented rotation. Zack Wheeler’s 2018 season officially ended Wednesday, when manager Mickey Callaway announced a shutdown for the right-hander because of workload concerns. Wheeler will be replaced in the rotation for his final two starts by rookie Corey Oswalt. “I...

PHILADELPHIA — Count Mickey Callaway among those who would like to see a change to the September roster rules. “There’s probably too many people active at this point,” the Mets manager said before Tuesday’s game at Citizens Bank Park. “I wouldn’t mind seeing a change in the rules.” The Phillies were at full September roster...

PHILADELPHIA — Steven Matz showed a little love for a rotation brother Tuesday night. It was a small contribution in the grand scheme, but NL Cy Young award candidate Aaron Nola departed the scene with his ERA higher than previously in part because Matz’s bat unleashed thunder for a second straight game. Anything for Matz’s...

PHILADELPHIA — Jacob deGrom is hardly the only pitcher in the Mets rotation whose long-term future could soon become a subject of debate within the organization. Of more immediacy is Zack Wheeler, headed into his last year of club control before potentially hitting free agency following the 2019 season. Staff ace deGrom isn’t eligible for...

PHILADELPHIA — Wilson Ramos isn’t about to jinx himself and start discussing free agency, but he will admit the Mets have the kind of starting pitching talent in place that might be appealing to a veteran catcher. “I like to work with those kind of rotations they have because I feel like I can help...