Robert Stock understands the significance of his current opportunities with the New York Mets. At 36, the journeyman right-hander is receiving his first extended look at starting games in Major League Baseball, with each outing serving as a potential audition for his future role.
The Mets are evaluating their pitching options for the remainder of the season and looking ahead to 2027, when they aim to be competitive again. Stock, who has shown flashes of both strong performance and vulnerability, is scheduled to start against the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday, following his most challenging outing of the year. In that game on Wednesday, he allowed seven runs on 10 hits over four innings against the Milwaukee Brewers.
His performance in upcoming games could determine whether his recent promising stretch, which has been a feel-good story for the team, and his place in the rotation, remain intact. "Luckily, they’re still giving me the ball," Stock told The Post. "So I’m gonna keep on making improvements and try and prove that it’s something that I can do — regardless of what my role is next year or even for the rest of the year. It’s just, I want to be pitching in the major leagues and so I’m gonna continue to improve."
Stock has delivered strong performances, including allowing just one run over five innings against the Miami Marlins on August 2. He also recorded 8 2/3 innings across two starts with only two runs allowed, one of which was earned. However, these promising outings have been interspersed with difficult starts where he surrendered a combined 15 runs and 19 hits.
Interim manager Andy Green indicated earlier this week that Stock would likely get another start, though not with a full commitment. "Without being fully committed," Green anticipated handing the ball to Stock for his next scheduled turn in the rotation. Meanwhile, pitcher Jonah Tong, after struggling for much of the season, pitched 5 2/3 scoreless innings in his last start on August 22 and was scheduled to make another start for Syracuse on Saturday.
Stock's career has been marked by various stops, including stints in Korea and Mexico, and with the independent Long Island Ducks. He also underwent thoracic outlet syndrome surgery earlier this year before returning to the major leagues.
Recently, Stock has focused on regaining velocity, which he believes was affected by an overemphasis on throwing strikes. According to Baseball Savant, his four-seam fastball averaged 96.8 mph during his August 8 start against the Pittsburgh Pirates, but has since dipped to 95.5 mph and 95.4 mph in his most recent starts on Wednesday and August 19, respectively.
"I have to prove that I can get guys out every fifth day, and especially through the third time through the order — I’ve had tremendous troubles doing that so far," Stock acknowledged, recognizing the immediate implications of his performances on his Mets future.
In other team news, Mark Vientos began his rehab assignment with Triple-A Syracuse on Saturday, playing designated hitter. Carson Benge has been performing well, entering Saturday's games with a .352 average and a .955 OPS over his last 27 games, collecting the third-most hits in the majors (37) and the best average in the National League during that span.
