With the loss of Jerry Blevins, Alex Torres presence and performance in the bullpen has gained much more significance for the Mets.
On Tuesday, Terry Collins said Torres will be used to get key left-handed hitters out late in games, trusting his ability to miss bats as he circumvents control problems.
“He’s got the stuff, he doesn’t get hit,” Collins said after the game. “He walks guys at times, but when he throws strikes he gets outs.
“He’s going to be a big piece right now,” Collins explained.
Torres got one big out on Tuesday night. With two on and two out in the seventh inning, he was tasked with getting Freddie Freeman. He fell behind Freeman but came back with his change-up to induce two swings and misses. Then, he froze Freeman with a fastball on the inner half, stranding the two runners he inherited.
Walks plagued Torres initially this season. He walked four batters in his first three outings. However, he hasn’t issued a walk in his last three outings, and has held left-handed hitters to one hit in eight at-bats with three strikeouts.
Despite that success, Torres’ history doesn’t suggest he’s truly a left-handed relief specialist. While he has held left-handers to a .212 average in his career, his marks against right-handers are actually better – he’s held them to a .182 average during his Major League career.
It is that which makes Terry Collins and the Mets believe Torres can be a versatile reliever against tough right-handers too. His change-up is the equalizer against right-handers, although last night he proved it can be equally as deadly against left-handers as well.
“We don’t have a specific guy,” Collins said of the left-handed relief situation on Tuesday.
He along with the injury to Jerry Blevins is forcing Collins to believe in him. And, as long as he throws strikes, he has every chance to reward Collins for that belief.
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