The New York Mets have a luxury of starting pitching options this season and the rotation is pretty much set outside of the fifth starter. Jacob deGrom is the ace followed by Noah Syndergaard and Marcus Stroman.
The fourth and fifth starting roles are being vied for by Steven Matz and newcomers Rick Porcello and Michael Wacha. Then, there are others who could slip into the mix such as Seth Lugo and Robert Gsellman.
Porcello has leapfrogged Matz for the No. 4 spot and appears to be settling in. The fifth spot is still wide open and the Mets appear to be ready to deploy an unconventional approach to that role, especially early in the season. They may turn the role into a situational one.
From Joel Sherman of the New York Post:Â
“Among the options they are internally discussing, The Post has learned, is using that fifth spot to match up best against each specific opponent. The determination would be whether the lefty Matz or the righty Wacha matches up best to start. Or the Mets would use Robert Gsellman or maybe even Seth Lugo as a one- or two-inning opener should the Mets conclude that is the best course. In that situation the opener would be followed by Matz or Wacha for bulk innings.
With three off days in the first 12 days of a season that begins March 26, the Mets will need to pick who goes in the fifth spot just once before April 11. After that?
The Mets are hoping they are in position to have to decide because it would indicate the full health of their key pitchers and success in spring training.
Not the craziest idea. Although the weather in the Northeast has been mild this year thus far, April is traditionally the month where you see the most postponed games. Injuries will also dictate how this plan gets rolled out.
Openers are more prevalent and we’ve seen teams have success with that strategy (see Tampa Bay) and the Mets’ staff certainly lines them up for such a plan.