Carlos Mendoza Finalizes Mets’ Starting Rotation

We knew that Freddy Peralta would be getting the nod on Opening Day. The team’s new ace will lead the Mets’ rotation as the two sides continue to work on a contract extension. On Friday, Mendoza announced that star prospect Nolan McLean would get the ball in the team’s third game of the year. This left the second, fourth, fifth, and potentially sixth game of the year up for grabs.

Game two against the Pittsburgh Pirates will go to southpaw David Peterson, who was up-and-down last year. He has made two starts so far this spring with varying results. His last appearance against the Washington Nationals saw him allow five hits and four earned runs in four innings. This elevated his spring ERA to 5.63. 

The fourth game of the year will go to Clay Holmes, who is fresh off representing Team USA at the World Baseball Classic. Holmes is a converted reliever who started last year hot but faded down the stretch. The Mets were often forced to use another pitcher to piggyback starts with Holmes down the stretch last season. In year two of his transition to a starter, Holmes is looking to be a contributor for the full 162 games and playoffs. 

Kodai Senga will start game five of the Mets' season. Senga has struggled with injuries the past two seasons. But he silenced those rumors with a stellar Spring Training, posting a 1.86 ERA and 0.724 WHIP in three games. He struck out eleven batters while only walking one in 9.2 innings of work. 

This leaves Sean Manaea on the outside looking in to start the season. When asked about the veteran lefty’s role, Mendoza was non-committal about him being a starter to begin the year. 

“So we are going to use him (Manaea) on a piggyback tandem. But we’re not necessarily going to announce which game he is going to be pitching.” 

Mendoza explained that the Mets made the decision early in camp, especially with the team having the luxury of six strong starters. The likely candidates for Manaea to piggyback with to start the year are Holmes or Senga. The Mets will probably want to provide them with ample opportunity to rest this season.

“Six guys throwing the ball pretty well, and we were pretty honest with all of them at the beginning of camp. If everyone were healthy, we’d have to make some tough decisions, and one of them was going to be pitching in that type of role.”

The Mets’ manager did go on to say that Manaea would start games at some point this season, but that the way the schedule lines up, they did not see the need for a six-man rotation. No matter how it is spun, it is clear that Manaea’s drop in velocity this spring and his struggles last season played a role in the Mets’ decision on the rotation to start the year.

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