A NY Mets playoff game plan was revealed vs. Phillies that doesn't require 13 runs

The MLB playoffs are a different animal than the regular season. More days in between games means an untaxed bullpen even for those residing in states other than Florida and Texas. In Monday’s beating versus the Philadelphia Phillies, the New York Mets began to follow one of their two familiar scripts. A PA eventually stepped in and reminded them this was the kind of night where they blow out the opponent, not go quietly into the night.

When you score 13 runs, at least one coming in each of the final 5 innings your team gets a chance to hit in, a win is a must. The game didn’t always feel so secure. Kodai Senga bounced after 4 innings with 6 hits, 3 runs, and 3 walks charged to him. He worked out of some jams. Overall, it was another disappointing result.

The lumbermen came out in sport, though. Like a Pringle can, the Mets popped and couldn’t stop hitting. They could have slowed down much earlier because the real key to this win was getting 5 hitless innings from their bullpen.

The Mets bullpen had a nearly perfect night against the Phillies, showing us exactly how to overcome a short start in the playoffs

It wasn’t until Harrison Bader drew a walk with one out in the ninth that any Mets relief pitcher allowed a base runner. Jose Castillo, the first to come in, had to deal with J.T. Realmuto at first base. Thanks to a double play off the bat of Alec Bohm assisted by a well-placed microphone in the outfield, no other Mets reliever had to deal with a base runner until Ryne Stanek’s walk.

In a lot of ways, it was a “get right” type of evening for the reliever. Stanek got to finish things off. Ryan Helsley pitched a clean 8th inning. Tyler Rogers and Brooks Raley joined in on the festivities, too. Each of them have had to deal with some hiccups recently, too.

The bullpen didn’t do it with a massive amount of strikeouts either. Just two Phillies hitters struck out against the relief corps. A little less than ideal, it reminded them there are more ways to get through an inning.

David Stearns has had his eye on the postseason all year with some attention to detail. National League teams benefit in the NLDS this year with games on October 4, 6, 8, 9, and 11. Only back-to-backs in games 3 and 4 should give Carlos Mendoza enough reason to launch his relievers one at a time more often than not. Of course, the real trouble is getting there first and advancing beyond the first round to reap this benefit. Four innings from your starter isn’t ideal in the regular season. In the playoffs, it’s more than enough.

Needing that many relievers for one win in the midst of a long streak of no days off will have to be something the current regular season Mets have to work around. For the sake of adding confidence back into some of their better relievers on paper, it's worth it.