The Mets have selected right-hander Robert Stock to start today’s game against the Marlins, per Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. Fellow righty Jonathan Pintaro is being optioned to Triple-A Syracuse in his place. Meanwhile, right-hander Bryce Conley is being selected to the 40-man roster, with Kevin Herget being designated for assignment in a corresponding move. The Mets will need to open one more 40-man spot.
It’s a quick exit for Herget, whose contract the Mets just selected yesterday. The righty set the Marlins down in order in the top of the ninth inning, though the Mets lost the game 6-2. As is typical with these moves, Herget was brought up for that lone appearance, and now he’s designated to bring in a fresh arm. Pintaro, who threw 43 pitches in two innings of relief ahead of Herget, gets optioned for similar reasons.
Herget finished the 2025 season in the Mets’ system and rejoined on a new minor league deal in December. He spent the early chunk of this season on the minor league injured list, and he’s thrown just 13 1/3 innings across three levels since being activated in late June. Herget was pretty effective at Triple-A last year, as he ran a 3.09 ERA in 46 2/3 innings between the Braves and Mets’ systems. He posted a 26.1% strikeout rate and a sharp 5.9% walk rate in that time.
His work in the majors is not as impressive. While Herget has a 2.13 ERA since the start of 2024, that comes in just 25 1/3 innings with a well-below-average 14.7% strikeout rate. He has a 4.13 ERA in 56 2/3 innings throughout his big league career, which he’s split between five teams. At this stage in his career, Herget figures to bounce around as a Quad-A depth arm. He’s been designated and outrighted in the past, so he has the right to elect free agency if and when he clears waivers.
Conley, 31, is a career minor leaguer who will be making his major league debut when he gets into a game. A late-round draft pick by the Athletics back in 2017, he reached Triple-A in 2022 and mostly pitched there from 2023-25 with the A’s and Nationals organizations. The Mets signed Conley to a non-roster deal in spring training. He’s since thrown 91 2/3 innings between Double-A and Triple-A, showing underwhelming control as well as an ERA near 6.00. As with Herget, Conley should be up for an appearance or two, then get designated off the roster for a fresh arm.
Stock spent four months on the minor league IL for arterial thoracic outlet syndrome. He has a 2.91 ERA in 21 2/3 innings between a June rehab assignment at Double-A and subsequent appearances with Syracuse. He figures to come up just for this spot start. Pintaro, meanwhile, has a 4.40 ERA in 14 1/3 innings out of the bullpen this year. He’s been serviceable at Triple-A and figures to keep shuffling back and forth to the majors, as he’s done six times already this season.
Photo courtesy of Frank Bowen IV, Imagn Images
