Jose Butto filled in ably as a starter for the Mets earlier this season, and he’s been even more impressive in three scoreless relief appearances since he came back from Triple-A to provide a versatile arm to a banged-up bullpen earlier this month.
The 26-year-old righty has recorded more than three outs in each of those outings, including the final four to notch his first major-league save Wednesday night against the Nationals.
“I just try to live in the present. Not the future. Right now, this is what they need me to do,” Butto said before Friday’s series opener against the Rockies at Citi Field. “If they [give] me the opportunity to be a starter, I’ll be a starter. If it’s [as] a reliever, just do my job, and that’s it.
“Whatever is needed to help the team win games.”
Overall, Butto has posted a 3-3 mark with a 2.72 ERA over 43 innings in his two stints with the Mets this season, including five scoreless frames since July 2.
He also made seven starts in April and May while David Peterson was working his way back from offseason hip surgery.
Kodai Senga also hasn’t appeared in a game for the Mets this season.
But with Reed Garrett joining relievers Drew Smith, Sean Reid-Foley and Brooks Raley on the injured list earlier this week, Butto already is earning manager Carlos Mendoza’s trust after converting to his new role.
“He can give multiple innings, and [it’s] his ability to throw strikes,” Mendoza said. “We know against righties his stuff has played a little better than against lefties, but he’s making some adjustments now.
“And he’s not afraid. He’ll take the ball, regardless of the situation, and we saw that the other day, coming in [a] high-leverage [situation] against the Nationals. He’s gonna come in and he’s gonna attack hitters. So I like that.”
Butto’s OPS allowed to left-handed hitters (.573) only is slightly higher than it has been against righties (.549) at the major-league level this season.
He believes his stuff is suited to succeed in either role.
“For now, it’s playing good right now. I just want to do my job and they will decide at the end of the day,” Butto said. “I think I can help the team and think I can do my thing in any situation they need me to do.”