Storm Opens Rotation Options for Mendoza

With no games until Friday, Carlos Mendoza has a lot of options when it comes to setting the Mets’ starting rotation for the weekend series in Milwaukee and beyond. And a lot to consider.

It’s an especially tricky dilemma for the rookie manager because of the doubleheader in Atlanta scheduled for Monday and playoff games starting Tuesday – if the Mets make it that far.

Mendoza, according to reports, is likely to start Sean Manaea (12-5, 3.29 ERA) on Friday, which makes sense because that would make him available to pitch on regular rest in the Wild Card round.

Since that round is a best-of-three to be played Tuesday-Thursday, throwing Manaea on Friday allows him to be on regular rest for Game 2 of that series. Holding Manaea beyond Friday would mean he’d have to go on short rest or pitch on regular rest in Game 3, but a Game 3 isn’t guaranteed in a best-of-three.

What does Mendoza do for Saturday, Sunday, and the doubleheader? Jose Quintana (10-9, 3.74 ERA) is the Mets’ hottest starter, currently riding a career-high 23.2-inning scoreless streak. The pitcher Mendoza pencils in for Saturday would be on regular rest for a potential deciding Wild Card Game 3. But would Mendoza prefer to save Quintana for one of the Braves games or Game 1 of the Wild Card round?

David Peterson (9-3, 3.08 ERA) was slated to pitch Wednesday. He’s had a wonderful season but has been shaky in two of his last three outings. Luis Severino (11-7, 3.91 ERA) gave up four runs on seven hits and took the loss Tuesday vs. Atlanta. He would be on regular rest on Sunday.

Does Mendoza take into account Severino’s playoff struggles and try to skip over him for the Wild Card round? In 11 career playoff appearances (10 starts), Severino is 1-4 with a 5.15 ERA. Throwing him Sunday likely means he wouldn’t start in the Wild Card round.

Finally, there is Tylor Megill (4-5, 3.98 ERA), who has given up one run in 16 innings over his last three starts. He’s the fifth starter so it’s safe to think he would not be Mendoza’s preference to start a playoff game.

It might make sense to hold Megill until the doubleheader, but then Mendoza runs the risk of using his fifth starter in what could be a do-or-die game to make the playoffs. Maybe he prefers to start Megill on Saturday or Sunday since the Brewers (90-67) may field a lineup of reserves since they have nothing to play for.

Another thing to consider is that if the Mets were to sweep the Brewers and get help, the doubleheader with the Braves could be meaningless. The Mets (87-70) are one game up on the Braves (86-71). If New York were three games ahead on Monday morning, the doubleheader wouldn’t matter.

Well, it could still matter to the Braves depending on what the Diamondbacks (87-71) do over the weekend. And it could still matter to the Mets for playoff seeding. That would lead to more tricky decisions for Mendoza. Does he use a quality starter to improve the Mets’ seeding if they already have a spot clinched? So many questions.

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