Carlos Mendoza provided some updates on the Mets' plans for the starting rotation and how he would deploy his options off the bench.
Rotation to remain a quintet
The Mets will “stay in line” with the rotation for the next time through and have David Peterson, who started Friday’s game, make his next start on regular rest, the skipper said.
Peterson has had some issues pitching without an extra day of rest and Clay Holmes struggled in his last outing (four runs on eight hits in 3.2 innings) on regular rest as well -- that’s something that hasn’t escaped Mendoza’s mind.
“Those are some of the conversations,” he said, adding that Holmes’ start in San Diego, “we saw the results. “We’ll continue to monitor it, but we feel good.
“They understand that at some point throughout the year, you’re gonna take the ball on regular rest. Petey’s done it and we’re not concerned at all.”
Saturday’s starter Kodai Senga, pitching as usual on five days' rest, is set to make his fourth start since returning from the IL and while the results haven’t been up to his standards, the skipper noted some promising signs.
“It's been fine,” Mendoza said of the righty’s recent outings. “I feel like, for the most part, he's getting the feel for his mechanics, which is a big deal for him.
“Definitely feeling really good physically, so health-wise he’s in a really good place. But I think it’s the mechanics that he’s continued to work on it and I feel like he’s getting to a really good spot.”
Bench to play active role
With the addition of Cedric Mullins, who was making his first start in center field on Saturday, the Mets will have another veteran option off the bench, which will likely lead to more mixing and matching off the bench in-game and have knock-on effects in terms of playing time for several players.
“They’re up for whatever we need as a team,” Mendoza said about the conversations he had with players about how Mullins’ arrival will change roles.
“We get into a time where they’re gonna understand that I can only play nine guys, we got 13 really good position players,” he said. “And even though your name is not in the lineup, you gotta be ready to come up and pinch-hit and get the biggest at-bat. And if I’m pinch-hitting for you, that doesn’t mean that I don’t believe in you, I like the matchup.
“I might be taking the bat away from you today, but tomorrow you could be the one getting that at-bat. It just goes to show you how deep we are with the roster.”
In Friday night’s game, it was Mark Vientos who was pinch-hit for by Brett Baty with two outs in the bottom of the eighth against ex-Met José Butto. For Saturday, Vientos is on the bench as Baty gets the start.
"It wasn’t an easy decision last night either, I wanted a lefty against Butto, we're familiar with him,” Mendoza said. “Then, you look at it today, facing a guy with big splits, too. And then we’re getting a lefty tomorrow, there’s couple of lefties [coming up].
“It's not like Mark won’t play against righties, he will pay, he will continue to get at-bats. It’s just me, especially today, trying to get all the lefties in the lineup.”
Vientos extended his hitting streak to 10 games in Friday's loss, and is slashing .343/.361/.486 for an .822 OPS over his last 16 contests.
Max Kranick update
Mendoza was not asked about the injured reliever ahead of Saturday's game, but an update earlier in the day from The Athletic's Will Sammon had a spot of good news.
Kranick, who was believed to have needed Tommy John surgery for a second time in his career, ended up undergoing flexor tendon repair surgery.
That procedure will be a shorter recovery timeline for his return at some point during the 2026 campaign, Sammon reported.
