As Sunday approached, the Mets aimed to complete a clean sweep against the Dodgers in Los Angeles. Despite a promising start with victories in the first two games against one of the wealthiest teams, Sunday’s game dampened their momentum.
Adrian Houser was tasked with contributing to the quest for a sweep, as the team had shown resilience after losing their initial five games. However, things didn’t go as planned. Houser struggled significantly during his third rotation through the Dodgers’ batting order, leading to a decisive 10-0 defeat, halting their six-game winning streak.
Adrian Houser. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Hui-USA TODAY Sports
In what turned out to be his most challenging outing since joining the Mets, Houser lasted just over four innings, conceding eight runs on seven hits with four walks and three strikeouts. His fifth inning was a nightmare, beginning with Andy Pages‘ leadoff double and a subsequent walk to Gavin Lux. The Dodgers capitalized on the opportunity, extending their lead to 3-0 with an RBI single from Mookie Betts and loading the bases with an Ohtani hit.
Although Houser had kept the Mets in the game until the fifth inning, he faltered as six consecutive Dodgers reached base against him in that pivotal frame, leading to his premature exit without recording an out. This marked the second occasion in four starts where he allowed five or more earned runs, with the previous instance occurring on April 9 in Atlanta.
In his subsequent start against the Pirates last Monday, Houser limited the damage, conceding only two earned runs despite issuing five walks over 5 ¹/₃ innings. However, his inconsistency at the major league level raises concerns about his future in the rotation, especially with promising talent like Christian Scott performing well in Syracuse.
Scott, ranked as the Mets’ fifth-best prospect by MLB.com, has been impressive, recording 26 strikeouts and three walks in 14 1/3 innings with a 3.77 ERA. If Houser fails to rectify his performance issues, Scott could potentially replace him in the rotation once deemed ready for the majors.
The Mets and David Stearns have shown a tendency for swift decisions this season. Despite it being considered a “see what we have” year, Houser might find himself on a tighter leash than anticipated, especially given the team’s strong performance. While outright release may not be imminent, he could be shifted to the bullpen or assigned to mop-up duty.
Houser undeniably possesses the skills to bounce back and recapture the form he exhibited with the Brewers. However, the pressing question remains: will the Mets tolerate his continued subpar performances as the season progresses?
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