Kodai Senga is scheduled to be eligible to go on the disabled list on Sept. 25, but the Mets still must make a decision on the right-hander, who has been out since straining his calf during his only major league start of the season on July 26.
The team is hopeful he might provide some input in the playoff series, and Senga pitched in relief and took defensive work at Citi Field on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the starting pitchers continue to perform well, with Tyler Megill being the latest example.
Megill allowed just one run over six innings in a 10-1 win and has a 1.69 ERA in four starts since returning from Triple-A Syracuse, making the absences of Senga and sidelined Paul Blackburn easier to swallow.
This marked the sixth consecutive start for a starting pitcher to pitch six or more innings.
“They've been great,” Carlos Mendoza said of the starters before the game. “Our starting pitchers are one of the reasons we're here. They're hard to score runs on and we've won close games. It's a good feeling knowing what to expect from our starting pitchers every night.”
They are still hopeful Senga will return before the playoffs.
“As long as he continues to feel good and progress, hopefully that's the plan,” the manager said. “Hopefully we can have that conversation soon.”
Francisco Lindor also sat out Tuesday with a sore back and it's unclear when he'll return.
Mendoza said the shortstop is “getting better” but did not provide details.
When Lindor was injured, Mendoza said he had to be careful not to put too much strain on 34-year-old Jose Iglesias, who started at second base Tuesday and had three hits to extend his hitting streak to 11 games.
“He's doing well,” Mendoza said. “He's been spending extra time in the training room and doing a little less pre-game training. We'll continue to monitor him.”
Mendoza talked to Mark Vientos about not getting frustrated when he hits an untimely slump.
Despite hitting a sacrifice fly on Tuesday, he has no hits in his last 12 at-bats and is just three for 38 at-bats.
“We've had informal discussions,” Mendoza said. “The goal is to keep him going. He's playing every day at the major league level, [playoff] The competition. Every game, every pitch. That's part of growing up.”
JD Martinez also continued his slump, going hitless in 24 at-bats.
Mendoza said that while all remaining games are important, he will still try to give key players rest.
Slumping Brandon Nimmo was left out of the lineup on Tuesday, and Mendoza said Nimmo will face another lefty on Wednesday and also face Philadelphia's lefty later in the week at Citi Field.
“We've got to keep everybody fresh and productive,” Mendoza said.
The Mets haven't gotten much out of Starling Marte, who is out with a bone bruise in his right knee, but Marte recorded his third straight RBI entering Tuesday's game and Mendoza said he believes the right fielder will be a key late in the innings.
Marte had no RBIs on Tuesday but finished 2-for-4 with one walk and one run scored.
“He's a really good player and has been in this league for a long time,” Mendoza said. “The talent is there. You can see it when you watch him run and impact the baseball.”
The key will be keeping Marte intact.
“He's been on the injured list for a couple months and he might not be 100 percent,” Mendoza said. “We have to protect him and he knows that… He can be very important. When he's healthy, we see that. He can help in a lot of different ways.”
