GETTING STARTED
Source: Matz likely 4th in Mets’ NLDS rotation
CINCINNATI — The Mets’ playoff rotation is all but set, but manager Terry Collins won’t officially complete the equation until later this week.
In some order, Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard and Matt Harvey will belong to the NLDS rotation, according to Collins. Steven Matz will likely claim the fourth spot over Bartolo Colon, according to a club source.
“I haven’t gone down that path yet,” Collins said before the Mets beat the Reds 81 on Sunday, a day after clinching the NL East title.
But Collins also indicated he’s reluctant to use Matz in the bullpen, given the rookie has never performed in that role and spent six weeks rehabbing from a torn lat muscle. That points to Matz’s inclusion in the rotation.
With Jon Niese squeezed out, the lefty will begin working from the bullpen this week as the Mets try to gauge his effectiveness for a potential relief role. Colon also could be a bullpen option, but it seems unlikely the Mets would carry both Colon and Niese in the bullpen.
Niese, who has made one career relief appearance (in 2011), volunteered for the bullpen after it became clear he wouldn’t have a spot in the NLDS rotation.
The Mets are without a lefty relief option, with Dario Alvarez sidelined by a strained groin — he hasn’t begun throwing — and Eric O’Flaherty struggling. Jerry Blevins has been on the disabled list since April after breaking his arm and then reinjuring it when he stumbled on a curb in August.
“If I can be that guy to get a lefty out, I’m definitely glad to be that guy,” Niese said.
Lefties are batting .285 against Niese this season and righties .275.
“From here until the end of the season just go down there to the bullpen and try to figure out a routine,” Niese said. “Just pitch the same — at tack hitters and attack the strike zone and get outs.”
On Monday, Collins and his coaching staff will begin discussing a rotation order for the NLDS, and general manager Sandy Alderson is expected to join the conversation Tuesday in Philadelphia.
As it stands, the Mets are in a battle with the Dodgers for home field in the NLDS. But the manager might set his rotation independent of the home field.
Collins hinted he could be leaning toward using Matt Harvey in Game 3. In that scenario, the righthander would pitch only once in the NLDS, but deGrom or Syndergaard would be available for a potential Game 5.
“One of the things we’ll talk about as a staff, for me one of the biggest games of the playoffs is Game 3 — it’s huge,” Collins said.
“For me it’s the pivotal game of any playoffs. That might be the perfect spot. We can watch his workload, and yet have him pitch the pivotal game.”
By workload, Collins was referring to the fact Harvey would pitch once, not twice in the NLDS — there are no plans to limit the righthander’s innings or pitches in a particular start.
Harvey will make a final regularseason start on Saturday against the Nationals and is expected to throw 7580 pitches. Here on Saturday against the Reds, the righthander was allowed to remain in the game for 6 ²/₃ innings after telling the manager he needed to make a regular start, not an abbreviated one.
“He wants to make sure that he throws enough pitches that he is ready for the playoffs,” Collins said. “We’ve got to get him so we make sure his arm is ready.”