New York Mets starting pitcher David Peterson (23) throws in the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brett Davis) (Brett Davis, AP)
ATLANTA — In the midst of the most important week of the regular season, the Mets have also been evaluating players for postseason roles. At the start of the week, the biggest questions were about which relievers they would take and what they would do with the DH spot. Those questions still have not been answered.
David Peterson and Drew Smith pitched well this week, but Tylor Megill wasn’t as strong. Peterson, Megill and Trevor Williams all have value as pitchers who have been stretched out to start at times this season, so they could eat multiple innings from the bullpen if needed. But the Mets have to find out if they can trust them in the type of high-leverage situations that typically define the postseason.
“You’re not going to find out in four games,” manager Buck Showalter said. “Most of the guys we’re talking about are probably going to be starters for us next year. But this is about the here and now and trying to put our best foot forward.”
The bullpen has long been short on left-handers with only Peterson and Joely Rodriguez, so that could give Peterson a leg up in the competition.
Peterson was given a tough task Saturday night in a 4-2 loss and passed with flying colors. Coming in during the eighth inning, he had to face left-handed Michael Harris II, right-handed Austin Riley and left-handed Matt Olson. Riley and Olson had homered off Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer on back-to-back nights, and Peterson had to keep runs off the board to be able to give the Mets a chance to come back.
Peterson struck out Harris and allowed a single to Riley. With Olson at the plate, Riley advanced on a wild pitch. But he struck out Olson and former Mets catcher Travis d’Arnaud to end the inning.
“If you’re asking about left-handed relievers, can you really survive Riley in between the two left-handers? Can you keep it in the park,” Showalter said. “Things like that. And can you trust him?”
But winning is more important than evaluating right now given that the Mets are still in a battle for the NL East with the Braves. Time is running out so the club will have to be confident with the decisions made.
“You’re not going to know that in five days or 10 days,” Showalter said. “You might think you can. You do what you can to take that information and try to make a good decision. But if anyone tries to tell you they know for sure what’s going to happen when the playoff lights go on, they’re kidding themselves.”
MAPPING IT OUT
In preparation for the final series of the season, the Mets sent pitchers Carlos Carrasco and Taijuan Walker back to New York. They will start the first two games of the series against the Washington Nationals at Citi Field, which begins Monday.
As for whether or not deGrom throws in the regular season finale, that hasn’t been determined yet. However, Showalter and pitching coach Jeremy Hefner have told him to plan on pitching Wednesday for now.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Mychal Givens and Tommy Hunter will not have to throw more simulated games. The relievers are eligible to be activated off of the injured list at any time but a roster move would have to be made. The Mets did not have a decision as of Sunday.
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Originally published at Tribune News Service