3 adjustments the Mets need to make before a pivotal NLDS Game 3

Adjustment No. 2: Stick with the hot pitcher

Baseball managers tend to get nervous in the postseason. It's understandable, as there's little margin for error. When the prospect of being sent home is on the table, it's easy to talk yourself into a fresh arm from the bullpen being the best option, but when it comes to Carlos Mendoza, I would urge him to take a deep breath and trust his guys.

Sean Manaea is getting the ball in Game 3, and he's been the very definition of reliable, especially since the All-Star Break. Not only has Manaea been effective, he's eaten up innings, with 10 of his last 12 regular season starts lasting at least 6.2 innings.

Mendoza pulled Manaea after five good innings in the Wild Card Round against Milwaukee, but he had more to give. Has the Mets bullpen been great lately? Yes. Do I trust it to hold on to a one-run lead with four innings to go? That's another matter.

If Manaea has his good stuff, which he often has lately, Mendoza needs to give him a longer leash. Edwin Diaz has thrown 130 pitches in the last eight days, and though Mets fans have to be proud of his warrior mentality, having a fatigued closer trying to get critical outs against a lineup as dangerous as Philadelphia's isn't a recipe for success.

There's a flip side to Mendoza being a little trigger happy on the pitching changes, and that's that he's been a little too willing to trust unproven guys in big spots. I love Tylor Megill, I really do, and his resurgence late in the season has been great to see, but letting him pitch the ninth inning in a tied playoff game at Citizens Bank Park is like throwing a new, untrained gladiator into the Colosseum to face Maximus Decimus Meridius.

Ryne Stanek has been outstanding lately. Ride the hot hand and put him in a big spot. Adam Ottavino has been, too. Together, those two have combined for one run allowed in their last eight appearances, and both of them are a lot more used to coming out of the pen than Megill.

Carlos Mendoza has done an objectively fantastic job with this team, and I'll ride with any decisions he makes the rest of the way. My only plea is to trust the hot pitchers on his team. They'll get the job done.