Hall of Fame pitcher and MLB Network analyst John Smoltz joined 'Boomer & Gio' in studio Friday with Jerry Recco filling in for Gio.
The Braves legend faced the Mets many times in his career. He's believed in this current Mets rotation and thought they could get back in the race thanks to their pitching.
"The Mets might have just done the right thing when everyone thought they should have punted and got a lot of different prospects in return," Smoltz said on WFAN. "Two months ago, I said the Nationals and Mets are not out of it. Most people look at me like I had three heads because they were really out of it. But their pitching staff can get them back in it. Washington's did. Scherzer on the IL hurts, but you're seeing what the Mets are doing with their pitching staff. I've been in love with the Mets pitching staff for years. Unfortunately they haven't been able to put everything together as a team. Maybe when they were outside looking in, this latest run gives everybody a little hope."
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Smoltz was joined by Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux in a Hall of Fame-filled starting rotation. It's hard to top those guys, but Smoltz had high praise for the Mets staff.
"Their stuff is 10 times better than ours," the MLB Network analyst said. "When I said that, people were like 'how can you say that, you guys went on to go to the Hall of Fame.' I said no there's a different between longevity and success and the stuff they possess. The stuff they possess dwarfs ours, but they're also pitching in a different era. If they can stay healthy, you will watch their numbers be better than ours and that's the case, whether they can stay healthy or not. That has been the issue. I did DeGrom's opener, I did his debut. I said this is going to be the best pitcher for the Mets in the next five or six years. He's proven that to be. He has a special gift."
Boomer believes the Mets have the best starting pitching staff in the game. Smoltz agreed.
"Syndergaard hasn't reached his full potential yet," Smoltz said. "I think for everyone it takes certain things to happen. It took me three and a half years to just figure out what I'm doing, let alone trying to have success. DeGrom is DeGrom. Wheeler is a guy that reminds me so much of me. I like him a lot. He's been through his surgeries and he's gotten his mechanical things. And then you add Stroman which I don't think anyone in the world saw coming. They saw that as possibly ok now they are going to trade Syndergaard. They have put themselves in position to be real competitive at the end of this year with a lot of baseball left. I know Mets fans are tired of hearing they're going to be good again. If they can find a way to be healthier, there's no reason why the Mets can't compete with anybody."