Jeremy Hefner expected Michael Tonkin to be pitching as well as he has in recent weeks, as the right-hander hasn’t been scored upon in his last seven outings.
The Mets pitching coach, though, hoped he would be doing it in Queens.
Tonkin, like another former Met reliever, Yohan Ramirez, has thrived on a contender since being designated for assignment by the Mets this season.
Tonkin is excelling with the Yankees, while Ramirez has become a valuable weapon out of the bullpen for the Dodgers.
Hefner noted that neither pitcher was let go because of performance, but because the bullpen needed more arms due to the rotation not providing much length early in the season.
Tonkin and Ramirez are both without minor league options, so the Mets ended up designating both for assignment.
Ramirez, who first went to Baltimore before coming back to the Mets and then being purchased by the Dodgers, pitched well in two games for the Mets in his second stint in Queens, pitching three scoreless innings.
Tonkin, who went from the Mets to the Twins, back to the Mets had a 5.14 ERA in five games in Queens before finally landing with the Yankees, for whom he earned a save Monday night in Kansas City.
“We knew what both of those guys could do,’’ Hefner said. “But we didn’t have other relievers that had options left, so you have to make decisions sometimes.”
The Mets entered Tuesday tied for 22nd in the majors in innings pitched from their starters, hurt by injuries to Kodai Senga, Tylor Megill and David Peterson, as well as underperformance by Adrian Houser.
By comparison, the Yankees were third and the Dodgers 13th in innings pitched.
And the Mets have been left relying on their bullpen more than they would like to — and watching a pair of quality arms they had earlier in the year excel elsewhere.
“You’re happy for both of them,” Hefner said. “And maybe it is a little frustrating, but it’s out of our control.”
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