David Stearns Just Put Every Mets Pitcher on Notice. Here’s What ‘Turn-by-Turn’ Really Means.

The New York Mets are two games under .500 in June, their rotation is a mess, and the president of baseball operations just told everyone with a uniform that the grace period is over.

David Stearns didn’t mince words when asked about the state of the starting staff. He called it a “turn-by-turn evaluation,” which is front-office speak for: you better perform this week or you might not be here next week. Via SNY, Stearns made it clear that every start matters right now, not just for the team’s playoff hopes but for individual job security.

“We do need to see production there. We need to figure out a way to get ourselves later into games and competitive positions,” Stearns said. “I call it a turn-by-turn evaluation of where we’re going to go start to start.”

That kind of language isn’t subtle. It’s a warning shot aimed at the entire pitching staff, especially guys whose ERAs are already trending in the wrong direction.

The numbers aren’t pretty

The Mets rank 14th in the league with a 4.08 ERA. That’s not terrible. But it’s not good enough for a team that expected to contend. They strike guys out and keep batting averages down. None of that matters when you can’t consistently win games.

New York is 34-43. That record tells the real story.

Nolan McLean has been the bright spot, posting a 3.67 ERA over 15 starts. But after him, the picture gets ugly. Freddy Peralta carries a 4.83 ERA through 16 starts. David Peterson checks in at 6.09 over 16 appearances. And Kodai Senga, who the Mets hoped would be an ace, has a 9.00 ERA across six starts. That’s not a typo.

Injuries and options

Clay Holmes and Christian Scott are both on the injured list, which doesn’t help. But the Mets have internal options. Jonah Tong and Jack Wenniger are at the minor league level, waiting for a call. There’s no shortage of arms. The question is whether the right ones are in the majors.

The trade deadline is also creeping up. Stearns hasn’t tipped his hand yet, but the way he’s talking now suggests the Mets won’t hesitate to make moves if the current group doesn’t figure things out.

Every starter in that clubhouse knows the deal now. Stearns said it out loud. The evaluation is happening start by start. Nobody’s spot is safe.