The champagne isn’t dry yet and plans aren’t set in stone yet, but here’s how I think the Mets will set up their rotation for the National League Championship Series against either Los Angeles or San Diego:
–Kohiro Chiga in the first race, carried on the shoulders of new relief ace David Peterson.
–Luis Severino in Game 2.
— Sean Manaea in Game 3.
–Jose Quintana in Game 4.
Peterson has been great as a starter for the Mets this season, and the fact that his move to Penn appears to be permanent heading into the postseason shows his ability to contribute in that role. This is not to criticize. He was a relief pitcher this time around because he helps compensate for the team’s main weaknesses.
The team was excited about what they saw of Chiga in Game 1 in Philadelphia, but the scouts in attendance thought he was overachieving. However, the Mets seem to be coming to the conclusion that the best approach is to use Chiga again in Game 1 as an opener of sorts. He threw 31 pitches in his first playoff appearance, but the team wants to develop him further.
In the bullpen, Edwin Diaz should benefit from two developments. One day off and the other confidence gained from shutting out the Phillies in Game 4 despite a shaky start.
Diaz was throwing over 100 pitches a week before getting two days off when the Mets flew home from Philadelphia.
“We ran out of gas in Philadelphia,” Diaz said on the field after the Mets’ win. “I feel 100 percent right now.”
He was all smiles when he said that, proof that coach Carlos Mendoza’s decision to move up Peterson for Diaz had the intended effect of restoring Diaz’s confidence.