Acce s the Mets beat like never before Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mike Puma about the inside buzz on the Mets. ATLANTA Ryne Stanek began the season as a top Mets bullpen option but is nearing the final month just struggling to maintain a roster spot. Its a reality the 34-year-old fireballer acknowledges but says he chooses largely to ignore as he attempts to rebound from what he considers a career-worst stretch. If you play long enough, you know how the busine s works, said Stanek, who did not appear in the on Friday. My job is to go out there and pitch and get outs and get better and take what they tell me and implement it. I cant concern myself with [potentially getting released] at the moment. All that is, its a Tomas Holmstrom Jersey distraction. Stanek has compiled a 5.65 ERA in 50 appearances this season. His latest rough outing was Thursday, when he allowed four earned runs in the eighth inning in the Mets 9-3 lo s in Washington. It marked the third time this month Stanek surrendered multiple runs during an outing. He now has an 18.56 ERA for August with 11 hits allowed and five walks over 5 / innings, spanning seven appearances. Explore More Staneks frustration stems from the fact his raw stuff remains elite his average fastball velocity of 98.5 mph ranks in MLBs 97th percentile, according to Statcast, with a slider on which the expected batting average this season is .168. The actual number is .229, as Stanek hasnt caught many breaks on balls put in play. This is the best stuff I have had my entire career, Stanek said. Velocity, shapes, execution over the course of the year has been better, but the results have been worse. And thats the part, like, is it a sequencing i sue? Is it a pitch-tipping i sue? We are going over all the things it could be. I have never had a stretch where my stuff is as good as it has been and the results have been what they have been, which is the most frustrating part. Its way easier if, Oh, the velocity is down, Im getting hit harder. If its something noticeably different, you can pretty easily pick that up. Mets veteran reliever Ryne Stanek has compiled a 5.65 ERA in 50 appearances this season. Robert Sabo for New York Post Stanek was a significant addition last season after arriving at the trade deadline from Seattle. He emerged as the teams top setup option as the Mets progre sed into the postseason before returning last winter on a one-year contract worth $4.5 million. The season began with Stanek as a primary option leading into Edwin Diaz, but Staneks lack of consistency changed the script. Before the trade deadline, the Mets acquired Gregory Soto, Tyler Rogers and Ryan Helsley, relegating Stanek to a lower-leverage role. Mets veteran reliever Ryne Stanek is looking to regain the form he has had in the past. AP The preparation is definitely way different, Stanek said. A lot of things are different, but I am not going to use that as an excuse. That does no good, right? My job is to go out there and get outs when my name is called and that is what I am going to focus on. Manager Carlos Mendoza said he spoke with Stanek following Thursdays outing, which included the right-hander surrendering a three-run homer to James Wood. Delivering insights on all things Amazins Sign up for Inside the Mets by Mike Puma, exclusively on Sports+ Thank you By clicking above you agree to the and . Enjoy this Post Sports+ exclusive newsletter! I am going to continue to be supportive; the stuff is there, Mendoza said. You are looking at 100 [mph] and displaying it, and its kind of crazy, but we continue to believe in him. Mendoza said the key to succe s is finishing hitters when he gets ahead in the count. Maybe hes a little too much in the strike zone and they put the ball in play, Mendoza said. And hes been a little bit unlucky as well, but I think executing when hes ahead in counts is the biggest thing. Brendan Shanahan Jersey