If the Mets play in October, Jose Quintana wants to be available to start games in October.
There are several obstacles, but the biggest are the Braves, Diamondbacks and Padres, who are competing with the Mets for the three National League wild-card spots.
Internally, the competition is stiff with Sean Manaea, Luis Severino and David Peterson all functioning as the front of the starting rotation, Paul Blackburn returning and Kodai Senga emerging as an option, even if he's not fully committed yet.
But the 35-year-old Quintana, entering his 13th season in the major leagues, is looking to finish the season strong to help the Mets reach the playoffs and reach his own goal.
“of course, [postseason] “I'm going to be in the starting rotation,” Quintana said before the Mets' 6-4, 10-inning win over the Reds on Friday at Citi Field, “and I know I've got to earn that spot.”
His quest for that position continues Saturday and will likely see him get the ball in the first of four games in September.
The left-hander described this season as “up and down,” which has resulted in a middling 4.27 ERA.
He was a disaster in most of his first four August starts (allowing 19 earned runs in 20 2/3 innings), but then bounced back to allow just one earned run in 11 1/3 innings against the Padres and White Sox.
Quintana started 27 games this season and pitched well enough to remain in the starting lineup, but he has been overtaken by the top three players who have emerged in recent months.
Manaea has looked like a stronger ace as the season has progressed, Severino has bounced back and has a 2.10 ERA in his past four starts, and Peterson has a 2.75 ERA in 17 starts.
The postseason format will include a best-of-three wild-card round before a best-of-five division series.
Quintana, who has pitched 145¹/₃ innings this season, said he feels “great” and that he's made adjustments recently to attack hitters early in the count and feels better now.
“I'm hopeful I can get better and do my best for the team,” said Quintana, who has pitched in five postseason games but only one since 2018 (a strong start to the 2022 season with the Cardinals).
If the Mets reach the postseason and Quintana is left out of the starting rotation, he said he'll “do whatever it takes for the team” and is open to being moved into the bullpen.
But Quintana, who will be a free agent at the end of this season, will hope his performance will encourage the team to keep him in the position he has held all season.
“My goal is to be in the rotation in the playoffs,” Quintana said. “I need to win to deserve it.”
