1 Gray has started exactly four games for the Rockies, half of them vs. the Mets. So his ERA is not really all that significant, due to the limited number of games he's pitched. And Rusin's 3.99 IS significantly higher than Salazar's, Carrasco's, and Kluber's. Anyway, if one doesn't use "ERA equals respectable starters logic" exactly what DO you use to determine if a starter is respectable ? I've seen Salazar and Carrasco any number of times and IMO they are quality starters. I've never seen Rusin or Gray, but then I rarely watch baseball in the league where pitchers bat.
2. "when you predicted the Mets winning streak" had nothing to do with individual pitcher's ERA It had to do solely with the fact that the Mets upcoming schedule includes only the worst team in MLB, the second worst team in MLB(twice), the third worst team in MLB, and the second worst team in the AL. It's hard not to like a team's chances vs. THAT gauntlet....especially when they're playing for something and their opponents are not.
3. I also could have predicted an improvement in the Mets run-scoring, due to the fact that they were gonna be playing the team with by far the worst ERA in MLB (Colorado), and the teams with the next highest team ERAs....Philly and Boston.
4. I also predicted that the Mets would probably win their division, after looking at their schedule and noting that they have exactly ONE team left on it that has a winning record....their Big Brothers from the Bronx. And I believe that those three games are home games for the Mets.
So, how can one not think a team that has about 40 games left in a race for the playoffs and has a schedule that features exactly ONE winning team on it will not prevail in a race for a spot in the playoffs vs. a team that has played .500 ball for the season and looks to be fading ?
Don't be mad at me for pointing out the Mets good fortune. Just be thankful you're not fighting a real team like Toronto for a playoff spot.