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From Kodai Senga to Jeff McNeil, roster questions before NLCS

Posted on by Kennedy
From Kodai Senga to Jeff McNeil, roster questions before NLCS

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The Mets and their fans have three days to breathe.

After a rollicking two-week stretch that featured some of the greatest highlights in franchise history, the Mets await their opponent in the National League Championship Series, which begins Sunday at a venue in California – either Petco Park in San Diego or Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.

Three days off give the Mets a chance to rest and collect after two weeks of traveling between Milwaukee, Atlanta and Philadelphia.

As they begin to prepare for their first NLCS trip since 2015, here are five questions the team must address for its biggest series in nearly a decade:

What's the next step for Kodai Senga?

In his first start since late July, when he went down with a severe calf strain, Kodai Senga threw two innings and 31 pitches in Game 1 of the NLDS against the Phillies.

Senga allowed a leadoff home run to Kyle Schwarber before settling for giving up a walk and recording three strikeouts. The right-hander was in the starting lineup for Game 5 and was able to get a little more rest.

As for the length Senga could provide, manager Carlos Mendoza said “you take the balls” that Senga can provide and don't have to waste Senga in a live batting practice scenario trying to stretch him out further.

“I don’t think you put him in a live BP and then use him for a possible Game 4,” Mendoza said. “I don’t see that as a possibility.”

So don't be surprised if the Mets lean on either David Peterson, who threw 23 pitches Wednesday, or Tylor Megill in a length role out of the bullpen.

How does the rest of the Mets rotation stack up?

The Mets have their entire stable of pitchers at their disposal for their first seven-game series, and it's likely that it will arrive in the same manner as it did in the Division Series. How could they do it now?

In the first two series, Luis Severino started the opening game. Severino has lasted six innings in each of his first two starts. He had trouble early on against the Brewers. Against the Phillies, Bryce Harper and Nick Castellanos tagged him late for home runs.

But Sean Manaea might be better equipped to start a regular break between Games 1 and 5. He made arguably the most dominant start of the postseason for the Mets, holding the Phillies to one earned run over seven innings while striking out six and allowing three hits and two walks. He has a 2.25 ERA in two starts.

Jose Quintana was the absolute pro in elimination games, throwing a total of 11 scoreless innings against the Brewers and Phillies that clinched the series. He will pitch the second home game in Game 4.

Will we see Jeff McNeil in the NLCS?

Midway through the two NLDS games at Citi Field, Mendoza said there was a good chance Jeff McNeil would come back for the championship series.

McNeil, out since Sept. 6 with a broken wrist, returned to the team after his wife gave birth to their second child on Oct. 4. The Mets second baseman rejoined the team in Philadelphia and has resumed all baseball activities.

“I don’t have any pain there right now,” McNeil said Sunday. “It’s more about restoring freedom of movement. It's all feeling really good, so we've gotten to the point where I've been doing baseball activities, swinging the bat for the last week or so, taking ground balls and running. “I'm just getting back into baseball shape.” back and take it day by day.

McNeil will play in the Arizona Fall League this weekend to get more time on the diamond before returning. The most likely player McNeil would replace would be Luisangel Acuña.

How will the Mets bullpen fare in a seven-game series?

Edwin Diaz still left a little room for fear among Mets fans in his pivotal NLDS Game 4. Diaz walked the first two batters in the inning, but came through with two strikeouts and a fly ball, fanning Kyle Schwarber with a 101 mph fastball.

Diaz has thrown 153 pitches in the Mets' last 10 games, starting in the series finale with the Brewers during the regular season on Sept. 29. Can he withstand the massive pressure that has been put on him?

“It meant a lot to me,” Diaz said Wednesday. “Last year I missed the entire season due to injury, and to be able to help this team in big moments throughout the year, I had my ups and downs, but at the end of the day I managed to do my job.

The contributions of Peterson and Megill out of the bullpen were a godsend for Mendoza, but he also leaned heavily on Phil Maton, Ryne Stanek and Reed Garrett. Maton showed some wear and tear while Stanek and Garrett struggled.

It will be interesting to see if Mendoza digs deeper and uses Adam Ottavino or Danny Young in the upcoming series.

Who is the Mets' next hero?

After going without a run on two bases-loaded opportunities early Wednesday night, Francisco Lindor made sure the third chance didn't fall by the wayside.

Lindor's second career postseason grand slam – also the second in Mets history – put the Mets on the road to the championship series. It complemented Lindor's legendary run and scored in the ninth inning to give the Mets their decisive postseason victory in Atlanta.

Legendary: With one swing, Francisco Lindor gives Mets fans a Citi Field moment they will never forget

“He regularly shows up in the biggest moments of the year,” said David Stearns, the Mets’ president of baseball operations. “I don’t know if there’s another baseball player you’d want at the plate right now in this situation. Apparently everyone in the ballpark knew what was going to happen.”

But it wasn't just Lindor who provided the lift. Pete Alonso gave the Mets the lead with a three-run home run in Game 3 of the NL Wild Card Series. Mark Vientos hit .429 with a team-high seven RBI in the playoffs. Jesse Winker hit a big home run in Game 3 of the NLDS and a two-run triple in Game 1 of the NL Wild Card.

Brandon Nimmo has seven hits and six runs scored in seven postseason games. And then the pitching appearances came in waves. Who will give the NLCS the biggest boost?

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