3 undeniable Mets flaws that could lead to a quick exit even if they do make the playoffs

3) The Mets starting pitchers aren't rising to the occasion against other playoff teams

Do we still trust the Mets starting pitchers? I do. But I also acknowledge they haven’t come up big for the Mets in their last three games. It’s a small sample but none of Luis Severino, Sean Manaea, or Jose Quintana have been good enough. We’ll see how David Peterson fairs on Sunday.

Starting pitching has been one of the surprise positives for the Mets this year. Many wrote their rotation off as some fangled Frankenstein put together with rejects from other organizations. Fair enough.

They took it personally. For months this season, it was the starters who were the most consistent part about the Mets roster. Because we don’t have memories of a goldfish, it sends chills down our spines (do goldfish have spines?) and reminds us way too much of how the Mets deflated in 2022 when they needed one win in Atlanta and had all three of their best pitchers on the mound. They came away with zero.

Although home field advantage in the Wild Card round was available to them, the starters again faded in the big moment versus the San Diego Padres. History doesn’t repeat. It rhymes. Lately, it feels like the pitching has fans twitching.