New York Mets Announce 2024 Wild Card Roster

For the 11th time in franchise history and the second time in three years, the New York Mets are going to the postseason. Manager Carlos Mendoza became the first rookie manager in team history to take the club to the playoffs. The Mets will play the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Wild Card Series starting on Tuesday. Before Game 1, the Mets released their roster for the Wild Card round.

Let’s take a look at the 2024 Mets playoff roster.

Starters & Bench (13)

1. Francisco Alvarez
2. Pete Alonso
3. Jose Iglesias
4. Francisco Lindor
5. Mark Vientos
6. Brandon Nimmo
7. Harrison Bader
8. Starling Marte
9. Luis Torrens
10. J.D. Martinez
11. Tyrone Taylor
12. Luisangel Acuña
13. Jesse Winker

The lineup has changed over the course of the season, with some platooning as well. On Opening Day, players such as Brett Baty and Jeff McNeil were in the everyday lineup. Now, Mark Vientos and Jose Iglesias are in there. Expect also to see starting time for Tyrone Taylor for Bader, as Taylor is swinging a hot bat, J.D. Martinez, and potentially Luisangel Acuna. 

It’s night and day when it comes to the depth the Mets have compared to the last time they were in the playoffs in 2022. Back then, they entered the playoffs with Daniel Vogelbach, Darin Ruf, and Terrance Gore on the bench. Now, they have a good combination of youth (Acuna), defense (Taylor, Bader, Torrens), and veteran presence (Martinez, Winker). 

Jesse Winker was reportedly dealing with a sore back the last couple days, which is why he didn’t play in the doubleheader on Monday. He makes the roster, however, as the team must feel confident he can play the next three days if needed. Brett Baty was one of the players the Mets had in a taxi squad if needed.

Rotation (4)

1. Luis Severino
2. Sean Manaea
3. Jose Quintana
4. David Peterson

This is where not having Kodai Senga in the fold hurts the Mets. They hoped to have him back in time for the playoffs, but a triceps injury during his rehab assignment ended his season. There’s no word on if he’d ever be available in the postseason. The Mets will have to roll with what they have with a rotation that doesn’t have an ace but has been a key part of their success to this point. Severino will take the mound in Game 1 of the National League Wild Card Series on Tuesday. 

Bullpen (9)

1. Edwin Diaz
2. Phil Maton
3. Ryne Stanek
4. Reed Garrett
5. Jose Butto
6. Adam Ottavino
7. Huascar Brazobán
8. Danny Young
9. Max Kranick

The Mets’ bullpen has also gone through many pieces this year. Before, it was Michael Tonkin, Yohan Ramirez, Jake Diekman, and Jorge Lopez, but none of them finished the year with the team. The bullpen saw injuries to Brooks Raley, Drew Smith, Sean Reid-Foley, and Dedniel Nunez. Nunez emerged as a good setup man for Diaz and was someone Mendoza counted on a lot. Unfortunately, his season ended due to a strained flexor tendon in his right arm. 

Team president David Stearns made trades to acquire Maton and Stanek, who have both been steady in the bullpen. Diaz’s season has been a roller coaster, and maybe none more so than the playoff-clinching game on Monday. The key to the Mets bullpen is Diaz.

Max Kranick is the lone surprise, and he takes the place of Tylor Megill, who won’t pitch the next couple of days after tossing 5.2 innings on Monday. Kranick pitched to a 3.57 ERA over 63 innings in Triple-A Syracuse—no easy feat in the International League.

Diaz, Maton, Brazoban, and Ottavino all may not be available in Game 1 due to their recent usage as the Mets tried to clinch a playoff spot.

 

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