In an effort to preserve their aging aces, the Mets will reportedly deploy a six-man rotation at times throughout the season, according to a new report by Tim Britton of The Athletic.
Per Britton, any time during the season where New York has a scheduled game more than 10 days in a row, a sixth starter will be used to give the five-man rotation some extra rest. Given the fact that the average age in the team’s rotation is 36 years old, it makes sense to try and preserve those arms for October, especially after Max Scherzer seemed to falter down the stretch for the second consecutive year, and will turn 39 years old this season. Justin Verlander just turned 40 last week.
Carlos Carrasco is weeks away from turning 36, while Jose Quintana turned 34 last month. The youngest arm in the rotation is the newly acquired Kodai Senga, who is 30 years old.
Looking ahead at the Mets schedule, there are five stretches where the team is scheduled to play more than 10 days in a row. They play exactly 10 straight in mid April, and then from April 25-May 7, New York plays on 13 straight days, which could be when a sixth rotation arm is first introduced. After an off day following that stretch, the Mets play another 13 straight games, ending on May 21.
There is a break after that until after the All-Star break, when New York plays on 15 straight days beginning on July 25. Following an off day after that stretch, the Mets play 13 games in a row ending on Aug. 23, and in a potentially crucial September stretch, the team plays 17 straight days from Sept. 8-24.
Of course, rainouts and injuries could impact those plans.
Who would be the candidates for a sixth starter? David Peterson and Tylor Megill seem like the obvious choices, while Joey Lucchesi is back from Tommy John surgery. Any one of them could fill in as starters if needed.
Follow Ryan Chichester on Twitter: @ryanchichester1
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