ATLANTA — The Mets have yet to make a decision about Friday night’s pitcher, but they have decided that it will not be a bullpen game.
Manager Carlos Mendoza confirmed this Wednesday at Truist Park, ahead of the second game of a three-game set against the Atlanta Braves. Considering the Mets are in a stretch of 13 straight games without an off-day, it’s the logical decision. This gives Mendoza the ability to use his bullpen the way he sees fit against the Braves. He can manage without having to worry about protecting certain arms to guarantee their availability for one or more innings Friday in Philadelphia.
“We’re not going to go [with a] bullpen day,” Mendoza said. “We want someone that is going to come in and can provide some lengths from pitches, and then we’ll go from there.”
This doesn’t rule out using an opener, but this isn’t something the Mets typically like to employ for a full nine-inning game. The team has used them to play games resumed in the middle innings, or even in the postseason when they’re subjected to roster limitations, but in the regular season, it’s not how the Mets like to operate.
Mendoza said they have not talked about an opener. The skipper expects to have a decision made Thursday.
The Mets need a starter to take right-hander Tylor Megill’s next turn through the rotation after placing Megill on the 15-day injured list at the start of their two-city NL East trip. Megill is expected to be out for more than a month with a right elbow strain, and with Frankie Montas making his final rehab start Wednesday, the right-hander will be unavailable.
Mendoza said the Mets will have a “decision” to make on Montas, but didn’t get into specifics about what that decision is. There had been some debate as to whether or not they should use Montas out of the bullpen, but that was before Megill was injured and the Mets still had five starters.
Now, down to only four, they’ll need a spot start for Friday and they’ll need Montas back in the rotation the next turn.
“He’s got to be 100 percent healthy, which — knock on wood — keeps saying he’s fine, so we’ve just got to wait and get through today,” Mendoza said. “He comes back tomorrow, and the next day we have a decision.”
MISSED CONNECTIONS
Right-hander Justin Garza encountered a familiar face when he was traded to the Mets from the San Francisco Giants earlier this month, center fielder Tyrone Taylor. The two met years ago on a recruiting visit to Cal State Fullerton in high school. Garza and Taylor were set to play with one another for the once-historic powerhouse college program in Orange County. They had recruiting visits and informational visits at the same time as part of the same freshman class, but only the pitcher would end up playing for the Titans.
Taylor, a second-round draft pick by the Milwaukee Brewers in 2012, opted against going to Fullerton and went straight to the minor leagues. Garza, meanwhile, reached the College World Series with the Titans in 2015 for the 17th time in program history.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Brett Baty was out of the lineup once again Wednesday with groin soreness. While he told Mendoza he felt “better,” the manager was unsure if he would be available off the bench before the game. The second/third baseman was not available Tuesday night to pinch-hit.
Third baseman Mark Vientos (hamstring strain) went 0-for-4 as the DH in his first rehab game Tuesday night with Triple-A Syracuse. He’s scheduled to play third base Wednesday. The Mets want to see him play back-to-back games at third base before activating him off the injured list.
