What happened: Nate Lavender has struck out 43 batters in 25.2 innings for Triple-A Syracuse, the third-highest strikeout rate in the International League at 41.0. The 26-year-old left-hander has thrown multiple innings in five of his last seven outings, including one appearance with six strikeouts on seven batters faced, and has allowed just two runs over that stretch.
Why it matters: The Mets are widely expected to move veteran left-handers A.J. Minter and Brooks Raley before the Aug. 3 trade deadline, which would open two bullpen spots on the left side. Lavender's performance positions him as an in-house option to fill that gap rather than the Mets seeking an external replacement.
By the numbers: Lavender has a 3.51 ERA at Syracuse and 43 strikeouts in 25.2 innings (41.0 K rate, third in the International League). In 2023 he posted a 2.98 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 89 strikeouts across two levels before an elbow injury requiring an internal brace procedure sidelined him after five appearances the following season. The Mets left him exposed to the Rule 5 Draft, where the Tampa Bay Rays selected him; he did not appear in a game in 2025 before returning to the Mets organization.
What to watch: Lavender's path to a major league debut runs through what the Mets do with Minter and Raley at the deadline.