The Mets‘ doubleheader against the Braves on Monday in Atlanta is unprecedented for a bunch of reasons.
First, it will determine the playoff fate of three teams (the Mets, Braves, and Diamondbacks).
Second, it will be followed by a flight taken by the Mets and/or Braves in advance of the start of the Wild Card Series on Tuesday.
Third, because whoever wins the first game of Monday’s doubleheader will clinch a playoff spot, that team is unlikely to use any key pitchers in the second game and could also rest a bunch of position players.
Put all of the above together and you get a situation where “everything is on the table” for the Mets, as manager Carlos Mendoza explained.
Here are the key things to know:
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The Mets are open to having Edwin Diaz pitch both games of the doubleheader, if he’s up for it and if using him twice is deemed necessary
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It is highly unlikely Luis Severino will start the second game of the doubleheader if the Mets win the first game
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In the event the Mets win the first game, Mendoza suggested that players who aren’t yet on the active roster will be activated ahead of the second game. He did not disclose who those players were
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Starling Marte is not in the lineup for the first game because the Mets did not want him to play 18 innings on Monday. Mendoza said Marte could enter the first game at some point. If the Mets lose the first game, expect to see Marte in the lineup for the second game
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Mendoza would not rule out the Mets using a position player to pitch at some point in the second game. That would obviously only be in play if they won the first game