Collins thinks something's going on with Mets' Gee after rough spot start

Dillon Gee has not exactly settled well into his new role in the New York Mets pitching staff.

After being relegated from the Mets' six-man rotation, Gee was penciled in for a spot start on Sunday and was lit up by the Atlanta Braves.

The 29-year-old righty only lasted 3 2/3 innings, during which he gave up 11 hits and eight earned runs, including a three-run home run to Jace Peterson in the second inning.

"I didn't feel too terrible physically," Gee said after the game. "It just was a bad day. Every ball they hit was finding the hole. But you can't say enough about these guys to come back from a hole like that and pull out a great win."

Gee's earned run average jumped to 5.90 from a prior 4.50 after the battering. He's given up 22 hits and 13 earned runs in his last 9 1/3 innings of work over the span of his last three outings.

"This guy has been too successful here to pitch like he did today, especially against a team that he just absolutely pitches brilliantly against time after time," manager Terry Collins said. "There's something going on. I don't know if he's down about the role he's in now. ... He's not in games consistently. He doesn't have the routine set up. He's in a different role than he's ever been in. So there's a lot of factors. That being said, we've got to figure out a way to get him through that, because we need him."

Collins is now tasked with ensuring that Gee understands his new role on the Mets' pitching staff.

“I’ve got to explain that to Dillon and make sure he understands that you’ve got to go back to the bullpen after you have a couple of days of rest, but we’re going to need you down there,” Collins said.

(h/t ESPN)

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