Predicting the Mets playoff roster in the NLDS against the Phillies with Kodai Senga

The New York Mets had only one surprise with their NLWC roster against the Milwaukee Brewers when they carried Max Kranick. It was a logical choice given the use of their bullpen leading up to Game 1. They needed a guy to eat up some innings in a blowout to help preserve the high leverage arms.

They never actually needed Kranick and it’s a virtual lock he’ll be replaced on the NLDS roster. However, the Mets may need to make more than one switcheroo. With Kodai Senga under consideration to be there as well and Tylor Megill in line as the likely Game 1 starter, it means at least two players will need to get dumped.

Swapping Megill for Kranick is the easy call. What about Senga? Who gets the boot for him?

Mets NLDS roster prediction with Kodai Senga

Shall we bore you with listing out every name? The Mets chose to load up on pitchers for the Wild Card round despite only needing three starters. They carried ten relievers with them. Four of them didn’t even get into any of the games. Their thinking here doesn’t need to change. Because four starting pitchers is now a possibility, there is less incentive to bring Brett Baty or DJ Stewart as a left-handed bat off the bench. You’re much better off getting caught with an inferior matchup at the plate with one of your everyday position players than not having enough arms available in the bullpen.

If it is Senga, one of the other three pitchers who didn’t appear in a game versus the Brewers should get scratched. Danny Young, as the lone true lefty reliever (David Peterson is a starter and long man candidate) might be saved simply because of the arm he throws with. This leaves us with Adam Ottavino and Huascar Brazoban. It’s like choosing your least favorite kid.

There are parts of both to like. Ottavino does have the experience while Brazoban is more durable in the sense of going more than an inning. If you’re carrying Jose Butto to be your multi-inning guy late with the lead, it does negate Brazoban a little bit more.

The consideration of Senga might require the Mets to purposefully save Peterson for multiple innings in any game Senga does start. With this in mind, leaving Ottavino off of the NLDS roster is more practical. 

I’m still not convinced the Mets will even add Senga to their roster. I’d predict they don’t add him simply because of the quickness of the series. By Game 2, Luis Severino and friends will be able to go on regular rest or more.

Despite only using a small number of their relievers in the Wild Card round, the Mets should continue on with a stacked bullpen. Games between the Mets and Phillies tend to get a little out of hand. I’d expect at least one blowout and regardless of which side the Mets fall on, saving your biggest guns for a high-leverage win is important.