1 answered, 2 unanswered NY Mets playoff roster questions if they can crawl in

The New York Mets can crawl into the playoffs Sunday. It never should have come down to all 162 regular season games. It’s too late to go back and change anything.

If the Mets are able to sneak in, they’ll have some major roster decisions to make. This weekend alone has raised a few questions while answering a third.

Clay Holmes is a playoff starter for the Mets

The narrative of Clay Holmes needing to go to the bullpen was one we all felt strongly at some point this year. And yet he finishes the regular season with the most consistent track record from start to finish. His outings were rarely long, but his exceptional outing on Saturday versus the Miami Marlins helped answer where he slots in: a starting pitcher. It’s a melancholy twist for the late in the season.

What are the Mets going to do at third base with Brett Baty out?

The Mets used Ronny Mauricio at third base on Saturday in lieu of Brett Baty who landed on the IL with an oblique injury. Is this the plan going forward? The team does have Mark Vientos who seems to have lost favor with the manager, front office, and fans. Vientos at third base gets Starling Marte in the lineup. It’s a matter of deciding if you want stronger defense at third base or not. Mauricio was already a slight candidate to not even make the playoff roster. However, with Baty out, he will. It’s just a matter of whether or not he’s one of the nine starters or someone saved for late-inning defense or a big swing against a right-handed reliever.

What would the Mets do in Game 2?

So, we know Nolan McLean would go in Game 1. Clay Holmes would have to go on short rest to start Game 2 of a NLWC series so let’s push him to Game 3. Starting pitcher questions have been up in the air for several weeks with piggybacking involved multiple times. The team is going to throw the kitchen sink on Sunday starting with Sean Manaea. Anyone they may be able to avoid putting on the mound becomes a more serious Game 2 starter. Brandon Sproat, with a quick hook, is probably the safest bet with everyone but Holmes available out of the bullpen.