“He shines the brightest when the autumn leaves change.”
How important is experience? You might be able to get away with a few embellishments on your resume regarding your software skills, but in baseball, every pitch is tracked, so there’s no hiding anything—it’s all recorded. For some players, this level of scrutiny can be beneficial. This is likely one of the key reasons the New York Mets pursued Ryne Stanek at the trade deadline.
Stanek has pitched in the postseason every year since 2020, starting with the Miami Marlins before spending three years with the Houston Astros. Now with the Mets, he’s become one of Carlos Mendoza’s most reliable bullpen options. The only run he’s allowed came in the 9th inning of their 6-2 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 1.
While the Mets didn’t make many moves at the deadline, they expect more than just Stanek to contribute to their success. He’s one of three players acquired via trade in July who are on the playoff roster, alongside Phil Maton and Jesse Winker. Winker has had a strong postseason, but it’s Stanek who has made the biggest impact, especially as other relievers have struggled.
We shouldn’t be surprised to see Ryne Stanek pitch this well for the Mets
In 2024, Stanek had one of his roughest seasons. He posted a 4.38 ERA with the Seattle Mariners, where most pitchers thrived, and followed it up with a 6.06 ERA with the Mets, where—let’s just say the pitching wasn’t as strong. This gave him a combined 4.88 ERA for the season. However, ERA isn’t everything. He struck out 67 batters in 55.1 innings, and his 4.1 walks per 9 innings was actually an improvement over his career average of 4.5 per 9.
Playoff Stanek is a different story. In 2021, he was a key part of Houston’s pitching staff, throwing 11 innings and allowing just 3 earned runs. His overall playoff numbers are stellar, with a perfect 3-0 record, a 2.45 ERA, and an impressive 0.77 WHIP. For a reliever, such numbers in a small sample can change with a single mistake, but what makes Stanek stand out is his composure and the fact that he doesn’t just blend into the bullpen.
Of the four remaining teams in the MLB playoffs, the Mets’ bullpen receives the least attention, mainly because the team isn’t built around it. Their 3.82 postseason ERA is skewed by Game 1 against the Dodgers, yet it still ranks 9th out of 12 playoff teams—an acceptable mark for most situations.
Stanek has emerged as the Mets’ most reliable option before Edwin Díaz, surpassing Maton and Jose Butto. In the unpredictable nature of the playoffs, having a seasoned reliever like Stanek can make all the difference.
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