Reese Kaplan -- Catch Your Breath and Realize It's Dead Even

Well, going into Philadelphia the Mets fans and media were convinced it was already an exercise in futility with the issues the club has had against the less-than-brotherly-love they got from the local fans 2 hours away from where the Mets call home at Citifield.

The first big surprise was the announcement prior to the series beginning that Kodai Senga was going to be added to the roster and serving as the number one starting pitcher after having been on the IL for all but a handful of innings in just a single game all season.  

Everyone expected he would be on a short leash given how little he has pitched.  After giving up a leadoff bomb to Kyle Schwarber, he settled down and indeed made the Phillies hitters look off their game when facing his ghost fork.  

He was gone after a couple of innings but looked mighty fine considering how his 2024 season unfolded.  Personally I would have used him as a relief pitcher to pitch multi-inning stints when needed, but I’m not going to argue with success.

In game two you kind of saw the rerun of historically bad luck that the Mets suffered through during games at Citizens Bank Park.  Luis Severino pitched pretty much on par for how he performed during the fight to get into October.  Giving up 3 runs over 6 innings is an ERA of 4.50 which is worse than his season number but certainly wasn’t horrific. 

The true star of this game was Mark Vientos who clubbed a pair of two-run homers, including the very timely one in the top of the 9th to tie the game at 6 when the team needed it the very most. 

Unfortunately it was simply not going to be a fight to the finish.  Tylor Megill did not pitch badly in his odd 9th inning assignment after Edwin Diaz was brought in earlier to try to stave off the bleeding.  He lost the game but it didn’t seem like he was doing anything questionable.  Remember that Megill is fighting for his Mets life as he cannot be optioned to the minors in 2025.

Now as you read this piece the Mets send Sean Manaea to the mound for game three, the first one taking place in Queens at Citifield.  Everyone knows how very good Manaea has been after a somewhat lost 2023 season that rendered him available as a free agent when that year ended.  He’s exceeded his own pitching resume and as Mets fans you couldn’t ask for a better choice to get the Mets to a 2-1 margin in the fight to get to the NLCS. 

After Manaea you could argue that the choice should have been David Peterson ready for game four.  Given his sub 3.00 ERA pitching this season you have to be pretty happy to have him in this role.  Likely it leaves Jose Quintana as the follow up pitcher to Kodai Senga’s 2nd playoff start if indeed there is a game five needed if the clubs wind up splitting the two games in New York.  Instead, however, the decision was made to go with the veteran Quintana for game four leaving Peterson as the Senga backup for game five it is becomes necessary.

Despite a few dramatic come-from-behind efforts, the Mets’ bats are not acting in the first few innings the way they do in the last few.  That’s a dangerous way to play the game and you’re hoping that somehow with the clock running out the hitters give it their all when it’s critically needed. 

I’m not going out on a limb with any predictions.  All I’m hoping is that the club is competitive and stands a chance to win every game.  Right now the starting pitching has been acceptable, the hitting is inconsistent, the relief pitching has also been uneven.  

An optimist would say that the team is in good shape as they’re not showing the very best they can do.  A pessimist would say they’re running on close to empty and are lucky to have gone as far as they have.  A realist is just happy it’s down to the best 2 out of 3 for the next few days.  Given how the year started for the Mets, that’s a great place to be.