Farm report: D.J. Carrasco
New York Mets starter D.J. Carrasco delivers to the Atlanta Braves during the second inning, in the first baseball game of a doubleheader. (April 16, 2011) Credit: AP
Whatever happened to D.J. Carrasco?
Signed in December to a two-year, $2.4-million contract, he was supposed to strengthen the Mets’ suspect bullpen. But he was demoted to Triple-A Buffalo after just eight games, and if you’re waiting for his call-up to rescue the relief corps, think again.
Carrasco, who wanted to compete for a rotation spot in spring training, is now a starting pitcher for the Bisons, and one of their better options at the moment.
Last Friday against Gwinnett, Carrasco retired the first 14 batters he faced and allowed only four hits and one run over 8 2 / 3 innings. The next start, on Wednesday, Carrasco had a no-hitter into the sixth and finished with seven scoreless innings.
That’s quite a turnaround. In his first six starts at Buffalo, Carrasco had a 5.10 ERA and allowed 40 hits in 30 innings. That’s dropped to one run over 15 2 / 3 innings in his last two, with six hits and 15 strikeouts.
