Johan Santana got bombed last by the Dodgers for 6 runs in 3 innings. It’s the third straight really bad start that he’s had. The Braves got him for 6 runs in 5 innings and the Cubs got 7 runs in 4.2 innings against him. It’s undeniable that he’s struggling.
The Mets are “considering options” for Santana which basically means they’re thinking about tinkering with getting him off his regularly scheduled starts. I’m not sure if that’s the answer because it doesn’t look like he’s lost velocity. So it doesn’t appear that he’s going through a dead arm period.
Things started going sideways for Santana after his no-hit miracle on June 1st when he didn’t start again for seven days. Sure, the 134 pitch no-hitter could have taken something out of him. And, yes, he is coming off a major shoulder surgery a year and a half ago. But in-season modifications to a starting pitchers schedule can cause big problems.
I think the Mets and Santana are better off trying to work through his struggles while keeping him in the same five day rotation to try to establish some consistency in his approach. It’s all about consistency for starting pitchers.
Check out the video below of Terry Collins and Santana talking about this situation.
The Mets Report 