Marcus Stroman, Joey Lucchesi settle rotation in Mets doubleheader sweep

The next in a series of injury-induced tests for the Mets will be a prolonged one for the rotation.

Reinforcements recently appeared imminent, but this week has brought clarity — and not the good kind. Noah Syndergaard, the Mets’ No. 2 starter if healthy, won’t be back until August at the earliest. Carlos Carrasco, the would-be No. 3, is out until at least late June. Jordan Yamamoto, a depth piece, is sidelined for two months if not longer.

And so days like Thursday — when the Mets swept a doubleheader against the Rockies, 1-0 and 4-2 — crystalize the blueprint: Longer starts from the reliable pitchers, bullpen-heavy games with the others.

Marcus Stroman, the Mets’ most consistently good and available player this year, boosted the Mets (24-20) to the early win with six shutout innings. Jose Peraza homered for the only run.

With a rested bullpen (and a seven-inning doubleheader game), the Mets were able to pull Joey Lucchesi after just 3 2/3 innings in the late win. Peraza provided two more RBIs, including a go-ahead, two-out single in the fourth.

That is the Mets’ plan, indefinitely. Lean on the likes of Stroman, Jacob deGrom and Taijuan Walker. Use the bullpen aggressively when needed in games started by Lucchesi or David Peterson.

Manager Luis Rojas said the success of the Mets’ bullpen overall and multi-inning relievers specifically — Sean Reid-Foley, Robert Gsellman, Seth Lugo when he returns next week — make that possible.

"Since we have a lot of the guys on the IL, I feel like it puts a little bit more pressure on the guys who are in the rotation to carry their load while those guys are out," said Stroman, who has a 2.47 ERA. "I know once we get them back, we’ll roll."

In his second scoreless outing of the season, Stroman scattered three hits and two walks, throwing only 90 pitches. He struck out three and got 10 ground-ball outs.

Rojas said he considered letting Stroman go for the complete game — he hasn’t pitched a shutout since he was a rookie in 2014 — but after a 19-pitch sixth inning, the Mets opted to go to closer Edwin Diaz.

"The sinker at times registered as a splitter," Rojas said of Stroman. "That tells you how much it was sinking."

Rockies righthander German Marquez was almost as good, allowing one run in a six-inning complete game (62 pitches). His only blemish was the Peraza long ball.

In the second game, the Mets reached Colorado’s Antonio Senzatela for two runs in four innings, with Peraza driving in the later of those runs.

In allowing one run in his 3 2/3 innings, Lucchesi bounced back from walking his first two batters to retire the next nine. He has not pitched more than four innings in any of his eight games.

Whereas Lucchesi’s role once seemed temporary, with Carrasco and Syndergaard previously so close to being ready, now he is seemingly locked into a back-end spot indefinitely.

"That would mean the world," Lucchesi said of getting an extended run in the rotation. "I’m really starting to get into a rhythm right now. I feel like I’m starting to put it together. Eventually it’ll get there. I think really soon it’s going to get there."

On his first game day with the Mets, rightfielder Billy McKinney made multiple run-saving catches. That highlighted a strong day of glovework that included diving stops from shortstop Francisco Lindor and third baseman Jonathan Villar.

Altogether, Thursday showcased the kind of team the Mets are — the kind of team they must be — until some of their hurt players return: defend well, pitch better, score a little.

They lead the NL East by 2 1/2 games, the largest division lead in the majors.

"We know our identity," Rojas said. "That’s why we’re clicking. We’re finding ways to score enough runs to back up our pitching."