José Quintana. Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Saturday’s doubleheader against the Atlanta Braves was one to forget for the New York Mets, as they were outscored 27-3 across the two games. One a day where so much went wrong for the team, José Quintana was able to continue his individual excellence on the mound.

Yes, the veteran may have earned his fourth loss of the season, but he was able to keep the Braves lineup in check. Quintana threw six strong innings in the 6-0 loss, giving up one run on four hits, lowering is ERA to 3.03 for the season.

“I felt really good out there. Tough lineup, so all the at bats are a challenge. Early on, you need to attack the zone and change speeds. Everything worked really good. It’s frustrated to get that kind of loss but I want to keep going,” Quintana said.

When all things are taken into consideration, Saturday’s start may have been his best in a Mets uniform thus far. The Braves lineup is deep, and after scoring 21 runs in the first game of the doubleheader, Quintana was able to avoid the big inning against such a potent attack. Yes, it would have been nice for him to get his first win, but the progress he has shown is quite promising.

Much of the focus has shifted towards what the 2024 Mets will look like, and at the moment, there is no doubt that Quintana is going to be an important player in this organization moving forward. With Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer no longer in New York, the rotation in 2024 will be led by Kodai Senga and Quintana. Over the next seven-and-a-half weeks, many will keep an eye on those two in preparation for what is to come next season.

If Senga and Quintana are able to continue this level of excellence next season, the rotation could be more of strength with the right additions in free agency. While the some in the Mets organization have said 2025 and 2026 will be the opening of their championship window, owner Steve Cohen wants a competitive team in 2024 and New York will reportedly won’t be quiet in free agency. It is difficult to predict what moves the front office will make in August, but if good decisions are made in free agency, the results on the field could drastically change.

Quintana is set to be under contract next season with a salary of $13 million. A very strong number given his performances thus far this season. Pending trade, he should be a great anchor as a third-or-fourth starter next season.