Maton earned a save against the Red Sox on Monday, striking out two batters in a perfect ninth inning.
Primary closer Edwin Diaz had pitched four times in five days coming into Monday, so he was held out with the Mets ahead by three runs entering the top of the ninth. Maton filled Diaz's usual role well, fanning two batters and retiring the side in order on 12 pitches. This was Maton's first save as a member of the Mets, but he's been very good in a high-leverage role since moving to New York from Tampa Bay on July 9, racking up eight holds and posting a 1.77 ERA along with a 22:5 K:BB over 20.1 frames.
Maton (2-2) picked up the win Thursday in a 3-2 extra-inning victory over Atlanta, throwing a scoreless 10th inning without a walk or a strikeout.
The right-hander got a bit lucky in the top of the 10th -- Ramon Laureano began the frame as the phantom runner and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt, but when Atlanta tried to bring him home with a suicide squeeze, Jarred Kelenic couldn't get his bat on a Maton pitch that was nowhere near the strike zone and Laureano got caught in a rundown. Maton has been a solid addition to the Mets' bullpen so far, posting a 1.50 ERA, 0.50 WHIP and 7:1 K:BB through six innings with three holds in seven appearances, plus Thursday's win.
The Rays traded Maton to the Mets on Tuesday in exchange for a player to be named later or cash.
In 40 appearances with the Rays, Maton has posted a 4.58 ERA and 1.33 WHIP over 35.1 innings -- a considerable step back from his 3.00 ERA and 1.12 WHIP in 2023. He'll now head to New York in order to add depth to the Mets' bullpen and will likely remain in a middle-relief role. Joey Lucchesi was designated for assignment in order to free up a spot on the 40-man roster.
