If the Mets can stay away from David Peterson in Game 4, they will. But if not, then they may have to go with their pitching Plan B when it comes to Game 5.
Manager Carlos Mendoza has not divulged the pitching plans for Friday yet, other than saying right-hander Kodai Senga will pitch at some point. The Mets are waiting to see how Game 4 goes and whether or not they have to use Peterson in a leverage situation against some of the Los Angeles Dodgers‘ tough left-handed pitchers. And with Freddie Freeman out of the lineup Thursday night, Game 4 might be an optimal game for Mendoza to use his right-handed leverage relievers.
“We haven’t decided that,” Mendoza said Thursday ahead of Game 4 of the NLCS at Citi Field. “We’ve got to get through today’s game and see where we’re at.”
Senga went through his full between-starts routine this week, which included playing catch Thursday on the field under the eye of pitching coach Jeremy Hefner. Mendoza has not seen any of Senga’s throwing sessions himself this week, but when it comes to fixing the mechanical issues that plagued the ace in Game 1 of the series, he trusts that Hefner would let him know if anything was off. So far, so good.
“He gets on the mound, watches film with Hef, he’s having conversations,” Mendoza said. “And Hef will provide some feedback. And then he’ll ask Senga, ‘What are you seeing and what are you feeling?’ I think he’s in a good spot. So yeah, he’s ready to go tomorrow.”
The Mets won’t shy away from using Peterson, a left-handed starter-turned-long-reliever, in Game 4. Mendoza is already managing every game as if there is a possibility of elimination, but with the Mets down 2-1 in the best-of-seven series, his club is now in a must-win situation. So if Peterson gives the Mets the best chance to win Thursday night, Mendoza will get him ready in the bullpen.
However, should Peterson warm up Thursday and not pitch, it wouldn’t prohibit him from pitching Friday.
“I get him up and then he doesn’t come in the game, he should be good to go for tomorrow in some capacity,” Mendoza said.
COHEN’S CHANGES
Since taking over as the majority owner, Steve Cohen has made a positive impression on former Mets players. Never has that been more apparent than this season, when several Mets greats returned to see the numbers of Darryl Strawberry and Doc Gooden retired, and to watch playoff games.
Robin Ventura and Edgardo Alfonzo, two members of the 2000 NL Pennant-winning team, teamed up for the first pitch ahead of Game 4. Seeing first-hand the changes Cohen and his team have made, they came away feeling positive about the state of the organization.
“I will say this, I think he’s a true Mets fan and he knows what the fans liked,” Alfonzo said. “I think he’s been doing a great job with this organization. I think he said he would like the team going to the playoffs the first three years and he’s doing it.”
COHEN’S ABODE
Speaking of Cohen, with Yoshinobu Yamamoto on the mound for the Dodgers in Game 4, Mendoza was reminded of the time he met with the right-hander while the Mets were attempting to woo him to come to New York as a free agent. Cohen and the team met with Yamamoto on multiple occasions, even going to Japan to meet with him.
Ultimately, he chose the Dodgers and Mendoza wiped the meeting from his memory. However, the Cohen home still stands out in Mendoza’s mind.
When asked what he remembers about that dinner, Mendoza said, “How impressive Steve Cohen’s house was.”
https://www.nydailynews.com/2024/10/17/mets-carlos-mendoza-game-5-nlcs-dodgers-mlb/