5 best candidates to call up when rosters expand in September

4) NY Mets can use Khalil Lee or Nick Plummer in a specialized role

We didn’t see the Mets use Khalil Lee or Nick Plummer all that much this year. Their only action on the MLB roster was out of necessity. Neither cracked the Opening Day roster. For most of 2022, they’ve sat in Triple-A awaiting a promotion.

The similarities between these two are striking. Both left-handed hitting outfielders with speed and capable of playing center field, maybe the Mets end up viewing them as a pair of pinch runners to consider.

The Mets wouldn’t promote them both. Having them together is like carrying Travis Jankowski and Ender Inciarte. Who would ever do that at the same time?

Neither has had a good year in Triple-A which could mean the Mets aim at what they need most. Whichever they deem to be the better defensive player or base runner might win out if this is the direction they choose.

Because these roster spots are extra, they don’t need to ever get an at-bat. We could still see the occasional spot start. They remain prospects for the ball club but are on the brink of sliding down most lists after this season.

Promoting either of them feels like a better option than Smith. There are only so many at-bats to get. Lee and Plummer can give the team mad dashes from first to third or close out some frames on defense. There is space for them in a limited capacity this September.

3) NY Mets need to figure out if David Peterson can pitch in relief

The Mets need to know what they can or cannot get out of David Peterson this year in a relief role. The lefty situation in the bullpen remains in question even with Joely Rodriguez not being a complete disaster. Peterson hasn’t been solid as a reliever but it would make a lot of sense for them to convert him into this role for a postseason run.

Right now, it makes sense to keep Peterson stretched out. He, along with Trevor Williams, is the best sixth starter the team could ask for. With the Mets planning to use Megill exclusively in relief if and when he returns, they could use the starting pitcher depth Peterson provides.

It’s very unlikely we see the Mets immediately promote Peterson on September 1. However, later in the year as things wind down, they may also use him as a two or three inning option in preparation for the postseason. It wouldn’t be so ridiculous for him to have a multi-inning role in October when starting pitchers tend to get an early hook.

With the two extra roster spots, one of them will fall to a different pitcher at least to start. By the time things wrap up, it would be important to understand whether Peterson is capable of giving them big outs late in a game.

2) NY Mets prospect Mark Vientos is ready to see big league pitching

No Mets prospect is more prepared to see MLB pitchers than Mark Vientos. As limited as he is on defense, having another right-handed stick with power can be valuable to the ball club.

Fans have wanted to see Vientos for months. J.D. Davis wasn’t cutting it. Nor was Dominic Smith. We can debate whether or not Vientos was or is ready for major league action. September is an opportunity to learn a little bit more about him.

Because the Mets have waited this long, we may simply see them promote someone like Travis Blankenhorn because of his defensive versatility. That’s okay. It’s probably a smart move to make anyway. It’s just not as exciting as calling up Vientos.

Vientos is one of several Mets prospects whose role on the big league team is a bit of a mystery. Once a third base prospect, he has played much more first base. He’d be a natural DH but the Mets aren’t going to take away too many at-bats from Daniel Vogelbach or Darin Ruf down the stretch. Vientos could be someone to start on a Sunday or pinch hit in an earlier situation during a game that could call for it.

If I had to predict, we don’t see Vientos immediately promoted. What about the other highly-anticipated prospect fans are eager to see?

1) NY Mets might want to see what Francisco Alvarez can offer

Fans have been waiting all year to hear Francisco Alvarez has been called up to the big leagues. He hasn’t happened. Will it in September?

Based on his performance, Alvarez would be behind Vientos. However, when considering the position he plays, maybe the Mets do want to carry two and a half catchers plus a half DH just to see what this kid can do.

The problem with the Mets roster is they now have a whole lot of defensively limited players. Luis Guillorme can roam around the infield. No position is off-limited for Jeff McNeil. It’s players like Ruf and Vogelbach who take up two roster spots that can’t do much other than play first base or DH.

If Alvarez is red hot at the end of August, things could change. Otherwise, we have to figure the team goes back to the Blankenhorn well or something similar. Alvarez probably wouldn’t even get all that many starts behind the plate for this ball club. The last thing Buck Showalter is prepared to do is lose a top playoff seed because his young catcher wasn’t ready.

In the era when teams could carry 40 players, Alvarez might make a little more sense. Unfortunately, while a top choice for me, the Mets would probably want one of the Lee/Plummer duo over him. They’ve at least faced MLB pitchers and can offer them an outfield alternative.

We’ll have to wait until 2023 to see Alvarez in Flushing.