Christian Scott strikes out six against Phillies

Scott provided some quality innings for a Mets team that desperately needed it after allowing 45 runs in their last four games. His fastball and sweeper were electric as usual, forcing eight of his 10 total swings-and-misses while working mostly to right-handed batters. It’s also worth noting how comfortable he was with his cutter against left-handed batters. A bit of a problem spot for him this season, he crowded them with it, got a handful of called strikes, and forced soft contact every time it was put into play. He’s thrown it at least 20% of the time to lefties in four straight outings and its 35% usage rate in this game was his highest since May 1st. He’ll close a solid first half with a 3.17 ERA, 65 strikeouts, and 26 walks across 54 innings.

This start was a perfect microcosm for who Scott is as a pitcher right now. His fastball was electric at the top of the zone and forced eight of his 13 total swings-and-misses. Also, his sweeper was highly effective against right-handed batters. On the flip side, he allowed two home runs to left-handed batters and struggled to put them away. His cutter was effective against them though, which is something to watch moving forward as he tries to find a reliable weapon against lefties. On the season, he has a 3.49 ERA with 60 strikeouts and 25 walks through 49 innings. He’s scheduled to face the Royals next time out in his last start of the first half.

Scott returns to New York’s rotation mix following a minimum stay on the injured list due to a hip impingement. The 27-year-old former top pitching prospect allowed three earned runs or fewer in eight consecutive starts prior to being tagged for four runs over 4 2/3 innings by the Cardinals during his last start before landing on the shelf. He holds an encouraging 3.10 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 47/19 K/BB ratio across 40 2/3 innings this season. There’s some risk right out of the gate for fantasy managers in a matchup against Philadelphia’s high-powered lineup, but he’s a worthwhile pickup in deeper leagues where he was dropped.

Scott is eligible to come off the injured list on Saturday, which would bump Kodai Senga back a couple days or out of New York’s rotation entirely. It’ll be David Peterson handling Friday’s series opener. The 27-year-old will wind up missing only a pair of starts after hitting the injured list with a hip impingement earlier this month. He had allowed three earned runs or fewer in eight consecutive starts prior to being tagged for four runs over 4 2/3 innings by the Cardinals during his last start before landing on the shelf. He boasts a strong 3.10 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 47/19 K/BB ratio across 40 2/3 innings this season. He’s a decent streaming option for fantasy managers in deeper formats where he may have been dropped.

Scott is eligible to come off the injured list next Saturday and might return to the Mets rotation then after missing only two starts.

The issue is believed to be relatively minor, according to The New York Post’s Jon Heyman. However, it’ll keep Scott sidelined until at least late June in a best-case scenario. The 27-year-old righty had allowed three earned runs or fewer in eight consecutive starts prior to being tagged for four runs over 4 2/3 innings by the Cardinals during his last start. He holds a respectable 3.10 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 47/19 K/BB ratio across 40 2/3 innings this season. It’ll be Tobias Myers taking his spot in New York’s rotation for now.

The New York Post’s Jon Heyman says it’s a hip issue, and it’s supposed to be relatively minor. Jonah Tong could be recalled to fill in for him. Kodai Senga was expected to make another rehab start, but he could be activated early.

Scott gave up homers to Alec Burleson in the first and Lars Noobaar and Jimmy Crooks in the second to account for all of the runs. He was effective afterwards, but the Mets didn’t let him face Nootbaar, who had also doubled, for a third time with two on in the fifth. Scott had allowed just one homer in eight starts this season, but that wasn’t going to continue from a guy with a 27 percent groundball rate. He still projects to be pretty useful in mixed leagues, even if he’s more help in strikeouts and WHIP than in ERA going forward. He’ll face the Reds next week.

It sounds like the Mets want to give Scott some extra rest before he takes the ball again during Thursday’s series finale. The 26-year-old was excellent his last time out, holding San Diego scoreless over 5 2/3 innings. It’ll be Austin Warren kicking off a bullpen game against St. Louis on Wednesday.

Scott was outstanding on Friday, holding the Padres scoreless into the sixth. He scattered three hits and two walks, striking out three batters before leaving with two outs in the sixth at 98 pitches. The 26-year-old right-hander ends the day with a 2.50 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, and a 41/18 K/BB ratio across 36 innings. Scott will look to keep things rolling in a start against the Cardinals in New York on Thursday.