MILWAUKEE — Jose Quintana wanted this.
Last month, he acknowledged that Sean Manaea, Luis Severino and David Peterson formed a solid top three in the Mets' rotation.
“I definitely want to be in it.” [postseason] “I know I have to earn a spot in the rotation,” Quintana said on Sept. 7.
He earned it, and the Mets' season was in the hands of the 35-year-old left-hander.
Quintana will get the ball in a do-or-die Game 3 after the Brewers took a 5-3 lead in the eighth inning Wednesday to clinch the Wild Card Series at American Family Field.
On Thursday, the 13th-year major leaguer and rookie right-hander Tobias Myers will face off in a battle of soft-toss players of various ages.
The exodus of the Mets' pitching staff has helped, with Manaea, Severino and Peterson unavailable, but Quintana has put himself in this position.
In the final sprint of the season, the veteran allowed just 3 earned runs (0.74 ERA) in his final 36¹/₃ innings, elevating his status from bullpen option in October to making the most important start of the Mets season.
The bad news for Quintana and the Mets is that Quintana gave up two of his runs in 4 1/3 innings against the Brewers on Saturday.
He pitched reasonably well and had nine strikeouts.
Quintana has pitched well against the Brewers so far and has pitched reasonably well in the postseason, posting a 3.86 ERA in five games.
“I'm really excited,” said Quintana, who hasn't pitched in October since 2022 with the Cardinals. “I think it's an honor to have the opportunity to pitch in the postseason again.”
Quintana saw solid, if not spectacular, pitching from Severino and Manaea in Games 1 and 2.
“Everything,” Manaea said of his trust in his rotation mates. “Q is unbelievable. He's a veteran, he pitches well, he pitches with confidence.
“If anyone can do that, I think it's him.”
Otherwise, the Mets' season will be over.
Quintana, who will be a free agent at the end of the season, said of his mindset: “Keep doing the same thing.” “Never change my approach. Just keep throwing the ball the way I've been throwing it. … This is a really important game for us.”
