Coming into the season, the Mets starting rotation was of question. One of the big questions, was Mike Pelfrey, who was pitching well, before going down to injury. Ever since then the Mets have been struggling to fill that fifth spot of the rotation. They tried Chris Schwinden for two starts, who pitched a total of eight innings going 0-1 with an 11.25 ERA. Since then the Mets used  40 year old Miguel Batista on Tuesday, who pitched 5 1/3 innings giving up eight hits and four runs in a Mets win. Mets manager Terry Collins has said that Batista will get at least one more start. With Chris Young at least a couple of weeks away before returning from injury, who is the pitcher to fill the fifth spot?

Meet Jeremy Hefner. Hefner was called for one game in late April, and pitched three innings in that game, pitching three innings, giving up three hits and a walk.  Hefner, who is currently at AAA Buffalo, has started six games and is 3-1 with a 1.77 ERA.  Hefner, 26, has pitched a total of 40 2/3 innings in those six starts, averaging about 6 2/3 innings per start. Furthermore, Hefner, has pitched a 0.910 WHIP, with 1.3 BB/9. While Hefner only has 5.1 K/9, Hefner throws strikes, doesn't walk people, and keeps the ball on the ground with a 39.5 GB% as well as a 3.00 GB/FB ratio.

So with Miguel Batista pitching mediocre, and Chris Young at least a couple of weeks away, why not give Jeremy Hefner a look?

Here are some notable stats from the Mets minor leaguers who played yesterday:

Triple-A Buffalo: Lost 3-2

• Lucas Duda ~ 2-4 with a single and a solo home run, his first of the year.
• Jesus Feliciano ~ 2-3 with a single, a double, and an RBI.
• Fernando Martinez pinch-hit in the ninth inning and struck out.
• Manny Acosta pitched one inning, giving up no runs, one walk and two strike outs.

Double-A Binghamton: Lost 9-4

• Allan Dykstra went 3-3 with two doubles and two runs scored.
• Jordany Valdespin went 2-3 with a double and two RBI.
• Brad Holt had his first bad start of the season, going just 2.1 innings giving up seven runs (six of them were earned) on six hits, four walks, and no strike outs.
• Eric Niesen pitched an inning of work, giving up no runs, no hits, no walks, and two strike outs.

Single-A Advanced St. Lucie: Won 9-4

• Matt Den Dekker went 2-4 with an RBI double and a three-run home run, his first of the year.
• Jefry Marte went 2-5 with a double and an RBI.
• Juan Langares went 3-4 with an RBI and a walk.
• Darin Gorski started for St. Lucie going four innings, giving up one run on three hits, one walk, and struck out TEN. Of the 12 outs he recorded, only two of them were not via strike out.