Bobby Parnell stood on the mound at Nationals Park last week, stunned, his hand on his hip, as he watched the Mets’ lead slip away against Washington, their division rival. For the Mets, trying to push their way into the playoff race, it was a devastating sight.
All season, injuries had ravaged the pitching staff, with young relievers coming and going, yet somehow the Mets had pieced together a more than capable bullpen. It seemed to be fraying, though. In the team’s first 10 games after the All-Star break, the bullpen blew three saves.
The Mets responded Monday by acquiring the right-handed reliever Tyler Clippard, a former All-Star setup man with postseason experience, from the Oakland Athletics to stabilize the bullpen.