STRESS RELIEF
Reed, Clippard back in bullpen roles after do-or-die Game 5
Addison Reed and Tyler Clippard are back in the mix.
After both relievers were skipped in Game 5 of the NLDS with the Mets holding a onerun lead in the late innings, manager Terry Collins on Saturday indicated he’s counting on them for the NLCS.
Noah Syndergaard pitched the seventh and Jeurys Familia the eighth and ninth in the Mets’ 32 victory over the Dodgers in the NLDS clincher.
“Right now those other guys [Clippard and Reed] have been our guys and they will be our guys tonight,” Collins said before the Mets faced the Cubs in Game 1 of the NLCS.
Bartolo Colon made three relief appearances in the NLDS, but Collins seemed wary of using the veteran righty in a highleverage spot against the Cubs, because of their powerful lineup.
“Bartolo saves us because he doesn’t walk anybody,” Collins said. “He makes you swing the bat. But the one thing they have done and their numbers dictate, they can hit some home runs, so he might be a guy that there’s a chance to get him in there and get some ground balls, but he can be a fly ball pitcher, too, and this is not a good team to face if you’re going to give up fly balls, because their power is exceptional.”
Sean Gilmartin replaced Erik Goeddel on the roster to give the Mets an extra lefty in the bullpen. Collins said part of the need stems from the anticipation Jon Niese may be late for an upcoming game following a recent death in the family.
Keith Hernandez was scheduled to throw out the ceremonial first pitch before Game 1.