Carlos Mendoza Yet to Name an NLCS Game 1 Starter

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza has not yet named a starting pitcher for NLCS Game 1, he said in a virtual press conference Friday.

In play could be Sean Manaea, Luis Severino or Kodai Senga — each of whom would be pitching on regular or extra rest. The NLCS begins Sunday, Oct. 13, against the winner of Friday night’s game between the Dodgers and Padres.

Senga made his long-awaited return from the injured list in Game 1 of the NLDS against the Phillies on Oct. 5. He surrendered a leadoff home run to Kyle Schwarber before settling in for two solid innings with three strikeouts. Of course, Senga starting would bring the biggest limitations of the three, considering he’s still working his way back to full strength. Senga was the Mets’ ace in 2023, but he likely wouldn’t be able to go more than a few innings even if things go well on Sunday.

Outside of Senga, Severino would be the Mets’ most rested starter. He pitched on five days’ rest in Game 2 and delivered a solid performance, allowing three runs in six innings with seven strikeouts.

Manaea, meanwhile, was the Mets’ best pitcher during the regular season, and followed it up with seven fantastic innings in Game 3. While he’d be slightly less rested than Severino, having pitched on Oct. 8, it would still be a full five days’ rest.

Meanwhile, Jeff McNeil is getting ramped up to return to the roster. McNeil has been out with a right wrist fracture since Sept. 6. After briefly stepping away from the team for the birth of his daughter, he rejoined the club in time for the NLDS celebration.

McNeil is expected to play in the Arizona Fall League on Friday and Saturday. Mendoza said Friday that the Mets are aiming for him to get four at-bats and to play seven to nine innings each day. If it goes well, McNeil could be in play for the NLCS roster.

If McNeil is indeed ready in time, Mendoza added that the Mets would consider dropping a pitcher from the roster for McNeil to replace. Likely in play for that move would be Adam Ottavino or Danny Young, neither of whom have pitched during this postseason run.

Mendoza also noted that the Mets will have a full workout Friday. It will include live batting practice from guys who haven’t pitched much recently, which of course includes Ottavino and Young.

So, despite the questions of the Game 1 starter and McNeil’s readiness remaining, the Mets are gearing up for the NLCS and taking a much-needed few days off. The extra rest really helps them, giving them multiple viable pitching options and opening up the potential to have McNeil rejoin the team.

McNeil didn’t have a great year, with only 1.3 fWAR, a .238 batting average and a 97 wRC+, though he was noticeably better in the second half. After just a 70 wRC+ before the All-Star break, he posted a 156 wRC+ in 149 second-half plate appearances before getting hurt.

His bat would be an upgrade over Luisangel Acuña, who should still be on the NLCS roster for his speed and defense. Acuña has appeared in six games this postseason but only has two at-bats, and he struck out in both of them.

The Mets will also be in the Championship Series at the same as the Yankees, of course, which creates a real possibility of a Subway World Series. The series would hold extra significance for Mendoza, given that he was a bench coach for the Yankees before taking over as Mets manager this year.

It’s too early to call it yet, but each team is just one series win away from creating a rematch of 2000.

“It’ll be an unbelievable experience for the city of New York and for the two fanbases,” Mendoza said of the potential Subway World Series. “It’ll be like a dream come true. Don’t want to get too far ahead, but the fact that the two teams are in it, in a position to do something special, is a great feeling for a lot of people, and especially for us with the Mets, and then for them for the Yankees as well.”

The Yankees’ ALCS run begins Monday against the winner of Saturday’s game between Cleveland and Detroit.

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