Predicting the Mets Postseason Roster

The Mets are back in the playoffs for the first time since 2016. They still have a division title to play for but let’s look a bit ahead at who they might carry on their 26-man postseason roster.

As always, players on the 40-man roster or on the 60-day injured list as of 11:59 p.m. on August 31 are eligible for the postseason.

Starting Lineup (8)

1. James McCann
2. Pete Alonso
3. Jeff McNeil
4. Francisco Lindor
5. Eduardo Escobar
6. Mark Canha
7. Brandon Nimmo
8. Starling Marte

The Mets starting lineup for the postseason shouldn’t be much of a surprise. You play the eight that have carried you to a possible 100-win season and stick with it. The only possible change would be due to Marte’s health, but he’s supposed to return before the end of the regular season.

Bench (5)

9. Tomás Nido
10. Daniel Vogelbach
11. Tyler Naquin
12. Luis Guillorme
13. Terrance Gore

Do the right thing and admit trading for Darin Ruf was a mistake. Gore makes the roster over Ruf. The Mets added Gore to the roster before the August 31 deadline, showing their intention to have the speedster available off their bench for a postseason run. Ruf has made the decision easier for the Mets by batting .152/.216/.197 in 29 games as a team member.

The remainder of the bench just makes sense. Obviously, the Mets will roster two catchers, likely playing the starting pitcher’s preference. Vogelbach is the DH frontrunner unless the Mets prefer to bat Escobar there and have Guillorme’s glove at third base. Naquin has been solid and has come on as a late-inning defensive replacement.

Rotation (4)

14. Max Scherzer
15. Jacob deGrom
16. Chris Bassitt
17. Carlos Carrasco

No Taijuan Walker here. Simply put, it’s the playoffs and you won’t be throwing all five starters when you have Scherzer and deGrom. Also, the fact Walker has majorly regressed in the second half of the season for a second straight year. I believe the Mets will toss Walker into the pen but if they were to choose a fifth started I’d select David Peterson over him.

Bullpen (9)

18. Edwin Diaz
19. Adam Ottavino
20. Seth Lugo
21. Trevor May
22. Joely Rodriguez
23. Mychal Givens
24. David Peterson
25. Trevor Williams
26. Taijuan Walker

Let’s start with the inarguables. Diaz, Ottavino, Lugo, Rodriguez, and Williams are guaranteed to have a spot in the pen for the postseason. They’ve been the most consistent and the best throughout 2022 and deserve to be there.

Then things get muddy. May hasn’t been spectacular in 2022 with all the injuries he’s been dealing with but will make the roster because of his pedigree. Givens was going to be a DFA candidate after his first two weeks with the Mets but he turned his time in New York around allowing a run in just one of his last 11 appearances. Currently, he’s on the COVID-19 injured list.

Peterson has only made six appearances out of the pen but it’s tough to see the Mets go without a second lefty there. He has the ability to provide length if needed but he’s been shaky in the role.

Walker will get the nod as the last spot. I don’t see him pitching much outside of a possible piggyback role and that’s where things get difficult. I’m leaving Drew Smith and Tylor Megill out of the bullpen because they haven’t shown they’re not capable right now to throw a clean inning. Yes, both are coming back from major injuries and have shown flashes this season but that was in April and May. The Mets need someone who can be relied upon and neither of these two can right now.

Maybe the Mets are bold. They leave Walker off the playoff roster because he’s not needed and short themselves by one pitcher to add another position player. Could Dominic Smith – who has been crushing it in Syracuse – return? It’s the playoffs so the Mets will exhaust all options but this is how I’d build out the roster.

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