What should the Mets rotation plans be against the Brewers and Braves?

MLB created a mess by not forcing the series between the New York Mets and Atlanta Braves to change dates and/or start times. At the very least, these two teams needed to get two games in and leave Monday open for a single affair. Instead, the Mets and Braves have a doubleheader scheduled for Monday that be everything from a winner take all situation to one team playing for no purpose other than to play spoiler.

The Mets perfectly planned their rotation to set up for Luis Severino, David Peterson, and Sean Manaea to face the Braves this week. Severino had his turn, but the double rainouts nix the opportunity for Peterson and Manaea to get their shot at Atlanta.

Two days off will give the Mets a chance to align their rotation yet again. What should they plan against the Milwaukee Brewers and the two games against the Braves?

The Mets rotation plans need to take a lot into consideration

It’s not as easy pushing everyone back. You also don’t want to look too far ahead and save your best pitchers against the Braves. As much as those games matter, beating the Brewers can set the Mets up well and maybe even eliminate the need to play at all—or allow them more ease into having to only go back to Atlanta for 9 innings.

A regular contributor at SNY, podcast hosts, and as close to an expert when it comes to Mets prospects as you can find outside of a scout, Joe DeMayo laid out what is probably the most practical plan.

You need to throw Manaea on the mound as soon as possible to help earn a win. You also want him rested enough to be available again in a potential Wild Card appearance. Starting him on Friday would give him time to come back for Game 2. David Peterson swaps places in the alignment with Manaea. Originally slated to start on Wednesday against the Braves, he gets pushed back and becomes a candidate to start an if necessary Game 3. Sunday, the Mets ask Jose Quintana to finish things off in Milwaukee.

Selecting the starters against the Brewers is easy. It’s when the Mets return to Atlanta when things begin to get hairy. DeMayo has Severino starting against them again. It’s not ideal considering how well the Braves hitters handled him on Tuesday. More terrifying is the possibility of Tylor Megill in a deciding game 162. But to pitch him in any other game would be a disservice. As much as we wouldn’t want the season riding on him (although, he has done well since his recall), you want to save him for last and try to get the job done before getting to him. Consider Megill the bayonet in this battle.

Notably absent from DeMayo’s blueprint is the starter for Game 1. Scheduled for Tuesday, the only thing that can help the Mets is if the series gets pushed back to a start on Wednesday. Otherwise, they’re going to need to ask Manaea to go on short rest or turn to Jose Butto for a few more innings than usual, back as a starter again.

Win as much in Milwaukee as possible, hope the Braves don’t sweep the Kansas City Royals, and pray the San Diego Padres annihilate the Arizona Diamondbacks to save us from the trouble of having to play these games at all.