#Marcus Stroman’s spring training 2.0 struggles continue

Marcus Stroman has plans to, in his words, dominate, to pitch so well he will be considered one of the top arms on the free-agent market.

So far, though, in spring training 2.0 the animated right-hander from Long Island expected to be the Mets’ No. 2 starter behind Jacob deGrom has yet to back up those bold words.

In his previous outing, Stroman walked the bases loaded in the first inning. In Friday’s intrasquad game, he allowed a pair of bombs, yielding three extra-base hits in three uneven innings of work while striking out four and walking one.

“That’s what we want to see now, the consistency of his pitches, find his rhythm and reach his pitch count,” manager Luis Rojas said via Zoom before Stroman took the mound Friday.

Afterward, Rojas viewed Stroman’s effort as a positive, giving the hitters credit for getting their pitches and taking advantage. Amed Rosario took Stroman deep down the left-field line while Dominic Smith went yard to right-center field, each of them no-doubters. Gordon Beckham also rapped a double off the left-field fence. Still, Rojas saw this as a step in the right direction for Stroman, who threw 60 pitches in his three frames and 20 more in the bullpen afterward. Rojas noted the action on his pitches and thought his location was mostly there.

“Stro looked good. So much energy out there on the field, in the dugout. I like how the competition was ramping up,” said Rojas, who declined to name Stroman his No. 2 starter, saying they have yet to formulate the order of the rotation after deGrom. “Some good, friendly competition that I think will prepare us for the upcoming games now against the Yankees and keep moving forward into the season. Stro threw the ball well and some of the hitters [made] some good adjustments.”

There is a lot riding on Stroman’s right arm, for himself and the Mets. He’s a free agent-to-be, the first time in his professional career he can choose his destination. And after Zack Wheeler left via free agency for the Phillies and Noah Syndergaard underwent Tommy John surgery, Stroman is being counted on to be a difference-maker in the rotation, to pitch like an All-Star, after coming over last July in a trade from the Blue Jays for pitching prospects Anthony Kay and Simeon Woods Richardson.

Stroman’s last two starts have both featured some impressive patches, but also laborious ones. His previous outing began poorly, while this one started well. He’s yet to put it all together. So far, consistency has eluded him.