Smith (1-0) collected the win Friday in a 3-2 victory over the Reds, giving up two hits and striking out one in a scoreless inning.
The right-hander entered a 1-1 tie with two outs and two on in the sixth inning and got Luke Maile to pop up, before running into trouble himself in the seventh and getting bailed out by Brooks Raley. Smith has made an appearance in four of the Mets' first seven games, posting a 4:2 K:BB over four innings without getting charged with an earned run, and he's picked up a win and a hold along the way. The 30-year-old hasn't recorded more than 14 holds in a season, but he could easily top that number in 2024 given his fairly high-leverage role for New York.
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Mets' Drew Smith: Locked into bullpen spot
Rotowire
Smith has a 0.00 ERA and 5:1 K:BB through 4.2 Grapefruit League innings and will be part of the Mets' Opening Day bullpen, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.
The 30-year-old right-hander has been a dependable arm for New York the last two seasons, posting a 3.78 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 113:44 K:BB over 102.1 innings with seven wins and 26 holds. Smith should be part of the middle-innings bridge to closer Edwin Diaz.
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Mets' Drew Smith: Set to earn $2.2 million in 2024
Rotowire
Smith signed a one-year, $2.2 million contract with the Mets on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Smith saw his performance decline in 2023, though he notched a career-high 56.1 innings and 15 combined saves and holds. With Edwin Diaz getting a clean bill of health, Smith projects to occupy a setup role at best in 2024.
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Mets' Drew Smith: Notches third save
Rotowire
Smith gave up a hit and a walk in a scoreless ninth inning Friday to record his third save of the season in a 2-1 win over the Mariners. He struck out one.
Neither Adam Ottavino not Brooks Raley has seen a heavy workload this week and both hadn't pitched since Wednesday, so Smith's usage here is a signal that manager Buck Showalter could be thinking about making the right-hander part of the closing committee in September. It's curious timing, as Smith had served up homers in each of his prior two appearances and posted a 4.09 ERA in August, but the team might be focused more on his 15:4 K:BB through 11 innings on the month.
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Mets' Drew Smith: Takes loss in relief
Rotowire
Smith (4-4) took the loss in Tuesday's 3-2 loss to the Cubs. He allowed two hits, including a home run, while striking out one over two-thirds of an inning.
Smith was called upon in the eighth inning of a tense 2-2 tie and proceeded to serve up a decisive home run to Mike Tauchman on a center-cut, 3-2 fastball. Prior to Tuesday, Smith had seven consecutive scoreless appearances, during which he allowed only three hits and two walks while striking out eight across seven innings.
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Mets' Drew Smith: Back from suspension
Rotowire
Smith was reinstated Monday from his 10-game foreign substance abuse suspension.
Smith received the 10-game ban after being ejected from the Mets' game against the Yankees back on June 13 when an umpire found sticky stuff on his right hand. He returns Monday to a 4.18 ERA and 28:10 K:BB through 23.2 innings for the year.
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Mets' Drew Smith: Serving 10-game suspension
Rotowire
Major League Baseball issued Smith a 10-game suspension Wednesday for a violation of the foreign substance policy, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Smith received the suspension after he was ejected from his relief appearance in Tuesday's game versus the Yankees. He won't appeal the suspension and will begin serving the ban Wednesday. Smith will be eligible to rejoin the Mets' 26-man active roster June 26.
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Mets' Drew Smith: Ejected for substance on hand
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Smith was ejected from Tuesday's game against the Yankees due to a substance that was discovered on his hand, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.
Smith was ejected before throwing a pitch in the contest after coming in to pitch the seventh inning. John Curtiss has replaced Smith on the mound. Assuming he doesn't win an appeal, the right-hander will be suspended for 10 games as a result of the ejection.
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Mets' Drew Smith: Notches second save
Rotowire
Smith picked up the save in one-third of an inning in Thursday's 4-2 victory over Philadelphia
Smith threw just one pitch to earn the save, coaxing a flyout from Drew Ellis after Brooks Raley recorded the first two outs in the ninth. The 29-year-old Smith was the Mets' top right-handed option, with David Robertson and Adam Ottavino each having pitched the last two days. Smith had been struggling coming into Thursday's contest, allowing at least a run in each of his previous four appearances. He now sports a 3.86 ERA with a 1.29 WHIP and 23:10 K:BB through 18.2 innings this season.
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Mets' Drew Smith: Picks up first career save
Rotowire
Smith struck out the only batter he faced to record his first career save in Friday's 3-2 win over the Nationals.
Manager Buck Showalter didn't want to take any chances once the Mets grabbed the lead in the sixth inning, and after Adam Ottavino worked a scoreless seventh, David Robertson was asked to try and get a six-out save. When Robertson ran out of gas in the ninth inning after throwing 40 pitches, however, Smith was on hand to bail him out. Smith has earned his high-leverage spot with a 1.88 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 20:7 K:BB through 14.1 innings, collecting two wins and seven holds in 16 appearances along with Friday's save, but he's unlikely to see consistent save opportunities barring an injury to either Robertson or Ottavino.
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Mets' Drew Smith: Stuck with loss Sunday
Rotowire
Smith (1-1) took the loss Sunday, giving up one run on one hit, one walk and one HBP in the eighth inning as the Mets fell 5-4 to the Giants. He struck out one.
Called in to keep the game tied at 4-4, Smith instead got tagged for a one-out double by Mike Yastrzemski that brought home the game-winning run. Despite the stumble, the right-hander has been solid in a high-leverage role for the Mets to begin the season, recording six holds in 11 appearances with a 2.79 ERA and 13:6 K:BB through 9.2 innings.
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Mets' Drew Smith: Notches first hold of 2023
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Smith gave up a hit and struck out two in a scoreless seventh inning to record his first hold of the season in Thursday's win over the Marlins.
It was a strong start to the season for the right-hander, who fired 10 of 16 pitches for strikes in relief of Max Scherzer. Smith isn't expected to be one of the arms called upon for closing duties to help replace Edwin Diaz (knee), but he should be able to blow past last year's career-high 14 holds with increased high-leverage usage.
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Mets' Drew Smith: Strong spring continues
Rotowire
Smith gave up a hit and a walk while striking out three in a scoreless eighth inning during Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Astros.
Max Scherzer worked the first seven frames, so manager Buck Showalter may have been hinting at how he plans to use Smith in the regular season by deploying him in this spot. The right-hander was already set to have a fairly significant role in the Mets' bullpen this season, but the injury to Edwin Diaz (knee) bumps everyone else up a rung on the ladder. With at least one of David Robertson and Adam Ottavino moving into the ninth inning, Smith could be one of the team's primary high-leverage right-handers. The 29-year-old recorded a career-high 14 holds in 2022, but he could easily top that number this season. Smith has looked sharp this spring to boot, posting an 8:2 K:BB through five innings while giving up only one run.
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Mets' Drew Smith: Officially activated from IL
Rotowire
Smith was activated off the 15-day injured list by the Mets on Tuesday, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
Smith has been held out of action since the end of July with a lat strain on his right side. During his rehab stint in Triple-A Syracuse, he pitched four scoreless innings, giving up just three hits and striking out six batters. He figures to serve as a middle-innings option in the Mets' bullpen as they prepare for what they hope will be a deep run into the postseason.
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Mets' Drew Smith: Activation coming Tuesday
Rotowire
Manager Buck Showalter said Smith (lat) is expected to be activated from the 15-day injured list Tuesday, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports.
Smith made his fourth minor-league rehab appearance Saturday, clearing the way for him to rejoin the active roster this week. The 28-year-old has been a solid bullpen piece for the Mets this season with a 3.51 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 47:14 K:BB across 41 innings.
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Mets' Drew Smith: First appearance set for Saturday
Rotowire
Smith (lat) is scheduled to make his first rehab appearance Saturday for Triple-A Syracuse, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.
Mets manager Buck Showalter previously suggested that Smith would begin his rehab assignment last weekend, but that never materialized. The organization's brain trust may just have wanted Smith to continue to building up with another live session, but the right-hander now looks like he's ready to test himself in a game setting. Smith, who has been on the injured list since July 28 with a lat strain, is likely to work in middle relief for New York once activated.
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Mets' Drew Smith: Should head to minors Sunday
Rotowire
Mets manager Buck Showalter said Smith (lat) will begin a rehab assignment in the minors Sunday, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
Smith has been sidelined since late July with a right lat strain and will likely require at least two appearances in the minors before the Mets are comfortable bringing him back from the 15-day injured list. Prior to being deactivated, Smith collected 14 holds and posted a 3.51 ERA in 41 innings out of the New York bullpen.
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Mets' Drew Smith: Completes side session
Rotowire
Smith (lat) threw a 15-pitch bullpen session Sunday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
The mound session was Smith's first since he was placed on the 15-day injured list July 28 with a right lat strain. He'll likely need to throw at least one more bullpen session before advancing to facing hitters in live batting practice, and then heading out on a minor-league rehab assignment. Smith still looks on pace to return from the IL at some point in the final three weeks of the regular season, at which point he'll likely step into a middle-relief or setup role out of the Mets bullpen.
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Mets' Drew Smith: Slated to throw Sunday
Rotowire
Smith (lat) will resume throwing Sunday, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
Smith has been on the injured list for over two weeks, but he's been cleared to begin a throwing program. It's not yet clear when he'll be able to return to game action, but he seems to be trending in the right direction.
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Mets' Drew Smith: Officially lands on injured list
Rotowire
Smith (lat) was placed on the 15-day injured list Thursday, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
Smith underwent an MRI on Wednesday that revealed a right lat strain and will be forced to miss at least two weeks due to his injury. It's not yet clear whether the Mets expect him to spend more than the minimum of 15 days on the IL, but it wouldn't be surprising to see the team seek out additional bullpen depth ahead of the Aug. 2 trade deadline.
