Projecting the Mets’ Potential Playoff Rotation Through Two Rounds

With just three games remaining in the regular season and the Mets trailing the Braves by 1.5 games, the Mets are all but certain to be playing in the Wild Card round (unless the Mets are able to sweep the Nationals and the Marlins beat the Braves in the next two games). Their path to a World Series is not as clear as it was when a division title looked likely, but with the talent in their rotation, the Mets are capable of making noise in the postseason no matter who they play.

Given an appearance in the Wild Card game is the most likely scenario, here’s how the Mets’ rotation could potentially line up for the postseason.

Wild Card Game 1: Jacob deGrom

Although the series didn’t go as planned, the Mets made it clear how they prefer to lineup their pitching staff with how they lined up in Atlanta. To nobody’s surprise, Jacob deGrom should be taking the mound for the Mets’ first postseason game in six years.

Wild Card Game 2: Max Scherzer

When the Mets signed Max Scherzer to the record setting three-year deal, the focus was immediately on how big it would be for the Mets to throw him and deGrom back-to-back in a postseason series. Since returning to the National League with the Nationals in 2015, Scherzer has pitched to a 2.73 ERA with 80 strikeouts in 66 postseason innings.

Wild Card Game 3: Chris Bassitt

Should the Mets reach a decisive third game in the Wild Card round, Chris Bassitt should be the Mets’ starter. When the Mets acquired Bassitt prior to the start of the season, it gave them a trio at the top of their rotation that can compete with anyone. Bassitt has made two postseason starts in his career, allowing four runs over 11 innings in the 2020 postseason.

NLDS Game 1: Taijuan Walker

If the Mets win the first two games of the Wild Card round, Bassitt would be the first choice to start the first game of the NLDS. If that series goes three games, the best option to start the division series is Taijuan Walker. Since joining the Mets, Walker has faced the Dodgers four times and has given them a chance to win in all four games. In those starts, Walker has a 3.80 ERA and 19 strikeouts over 23 2/3 innings. The Mets could also opt to give the ball to deGrom on four days rest since the division series starts on Tuesday, but if they want to give their co-aces a full five days of rest, Walker gives them the best shot in Game 1.

NLDS Game 2: Jacob deGrom

With the Wild Card round starting on Friday and Game 2 of the NLDS being scheduled for Wednesday, deGrom would be in line to make the start for the Mets on regular rest. Getting swept in Atlanta made their path much more difficult, but the Mets are fortunate that they can still get their top arms lined up by Game 2. It has been seven years since deGrom pitched for the Mets in a postseason game, but the Mets’ ace has already proven he is capable of handling the bright lights of Dodger Stadium in October.

NLDS Game 3: Max Scherzer

With a travel day scheduled for the teams to fly to New York, Scherzer would be pitching with an extra day of rest in Game 3. Scherzer experienced a “dead arm” during his postseason run with the Dodgers last season that he believed was a result of pushing his limits after easing his way into the postseason with his pitch counts in the regular season. The added day of rest could be beneficial for the future Hall of Famer.

NLDS Game 4: Chris Bassitt

Depending on where the Mets stand in the series after three games, it would not be out of the question for Bassitt to start Game 4 regardless of who pitched in Game 1. With the travel day, the Game 1 starter would still be pitching on four days of rest in Game 4. If the Mets’ season was on the line, it would not come as a surprise to see them turn to Bassitt due to his stronger track record. Bassitt has faced the Dodgers twice in 2022, pitching to a 3.75 ERA over two six-inning starts. Walker could be an option to start Game 4 if he is not the Game 1 starter, but Bassitt should be the most likely choice.

NLDS Game 5: Jacob deGrom

If the Mets are faced with a do-or-die game in Los Angeles, there is nobody better prepared for it than deGrom. While the Dodgers have certainly improved since their last Game 5 match-up with deGrom in 2015, deGrom has as well. Despite being on four days of rest, there is nobody who should get the ball over the best pitcher in baseball in a winner-take-all game.

Morale for the fanbase understandably took a hit after the tough series in Atlanta, but the talent in the Mets’ rotation is more than enough to turn it around quickly once the postseason starts on Friday. It is certainly a tougher task having to get through a Wild Card series then play the Dodgers, but if there is a team with a pitching staff that can handle it, it’s the Mets.