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3 Mets players who have yet to secure their spot on the playoff roster

By Tim Boyle |
Los Angeles Dodgers v New York Mets
Los Angeles Dodgers v New York Mets / Jim McIsaac/GettyImages
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Time is on the side of the New York Mets who still have some of it to decide on who they will bring with them to the postseason. As the team battles it out in the final days of the regular season against the Atlanta Braves for National League East supremacy, the eventual Mets playoff roster remains uncertain.

Things will change dramatically, too, if they end up having to settle for a wild card. But looking at things from a more long-term playoff perspective, there are three players who have yet to secure a spot in the postseason—whether it starts off hosting in the wild card round or after a bye.

1) Darin Ruf has yet to earn his way onto the NY Mets playoff roster

The only thing keeping Darin Ruf from being an automatic “no” for the Mets playoff roster is a lack of alternative options. Mark Vientos was the guy who could take his roster spot away with a hot finish. The problem is Vientos is possibly even less flexible on defense. The Mets aren’t introducing him to the defensive side of the game at the major league level while Ruf is regularly getting starts at first base and even right field.

The promotion of Francisco Alvarez to the major league roster certainly makes it seem as if the front office is hopeful Ruf won't join them in the postseason. We all have our fingers crossed.

Ruf was meant to be the better half of the DH platoon with Daniel Vogelbach. Instead, he has continually wasted at-bats and an opportunity to become a huge contributor for New York. His IL stint, which eliminates him from at least any wild card round, is telling.

The Mets will need to make some sort of a decision about his role or whatever it is they decide to do at the DH spot when they face a lefty. They’ve been careful not to allow Vogelbach to see lefties often which might be a mistake. Given how poor Ruf has performed, it might have made sense to at least give Vogelbach a few opportunities even if his history suggests he isn’t about to figure it out. Aside from that, it seems as if Alvarez will get every chance he can until the regular season is over.

2) David Peterson is far from a lock for the NY Mets postseason roster

It would be great if David Peterson could show the Mets he deserves a roster spot this postseason. Having him in the bullpen, a lefty, would give Buck Showalter an alternative option to Joely Rodriguez. Rodriguez on the playoff roster is already debatable but we can make the case that it’s important to have at least one true lefty reliever even if he ends up being used sparingly.

Peterson’s issues might be a poor transition from a starting role to the bullpen. In whichever way the Mets have chosen to use him this year, we’ve seen both the bad and the ugly of what he can offer. Being able to give them multiple innings in relief would be an advantage on most rosters. On the Mets, it’s a little different.

The Mets actually have an abundance of long relief options. Trevor Williams is the most notable and we can probably guarantee the Mets bring him with them into the postseason. He has been terrific going multiple innings out of the bullpen. He has been tested in this role and passed many times.

Peterson’s biggest competition for a roster spot might be Tylor Megill. How each of them perform in the final days of the regular season will go a long way into determining whether or not they’re with the club when the playoffs begin.

3) Why the loser of the Carlos Carrasco vs. Taijuan Walker might not make the NY Mets playoff roster

See above. With Peterson and Megill already competing for a bullpen spot and Williams a virtual lock, the Mets don’t have as much of a need to make a starter a reliever in the playoffs. This leaves the loser of the Carlos Carrasco vs. Taijuan Walker battle for the fourth starter role potentially left in the dust.

The Mets do have a few other relievers whose postseason roster spot is in jeopardy. Drew Smith hasn’t been nearly as excellent as he was earlier this year. Could he bow out of the way in favor of a more seasoned veteran going from the rotation to the bullpen?

Mychal Givens is another guy who could throw his final pitch for the Mets in the regular season. He’d serve them best as a mop up guy. However, this is also the likely role Williams would have. Any of the starters would be better options to go multiple innings than Givens who is more of a traditional inning-at-a-time pitcher.

Carrasco and Walker will each get to make one last start for the Mets this season. The hotter arm might win favor while the other could end up having to sit out a round or two in the postseason. It should be interesting to see how this weeks-long internal battle ends. Unless both finish strong, one could be left behind.

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