If the Mets are going to play in October, Jose Quintana desires to place himself to begin video games in October.
There are obstacles, probably the most vital being the Braves, Diamondbacks and Padres, who’re combating with the Mets for 3 Nationwide League wild-card spots.
Internally, there may be loads of competitors with Sean Manaea, Luis Severino and David Peterson performing just like the entrance finish of a rotation, Paul Blackburn returning and Kodai Senga looming as an possibility even when he is not going to be totally constructed up.
However Quintana — a 35-year-old in his thirteenth big-league season — is planning on ending the season sturdy, which might assist the Mets’ playoff chase and additional his personal objectives.
“Positively, I need to be within the [postseason] rotation,” Quintana stated earlier than the Mets’ 6-4, 10-inning win over the Reds at Citi Discipline on Friday, “and I do know I must win that spot.”
His quest for that spot continues Saturday when he’ll get the ball for what doubtless is his first of 4 September outings.
The lefty characterised his season as having quite a lot of “ups and downs,” which has added as much as a middling 4.27 ERA.
He was largely overwhelmed up for his first 4 August begins (permitting 19 earned runs in 20 ²/₃ innings) earlier than rebounding in permitting one earned run in 11 ¹/₃ innings towards the Padres and White Sox.
Quintana has pitched nicely sufficient to stay within the beginning group all season, logging 27 begins, however has been surpassed by the trio on the prime, who’ve emerged previously couple of months.
Manaea has regarded like an ace in gaining energy because the season has worn on, Severino has bounced again and owns a 2.10 ERA in his previous 4 begins and Peterson holds a 2.75 ERA in his 17 begins.
The postseason format features a best-of-three wild-card spherical earlier than a best-of-five division collection.
After 145 ¹/₃ innings this season, Quintana stated he feels “superb” and feels he just lately has made changes in attacking hitters earlier in counts which have helped straighten him out.
“I count on to be higher and do the perfect for the crew,” stated Quintana, who has pitched in 5 postseason video games in his profession however only one (a powerful begin for the Cardinals in 2022) since 2018.
If the Mets surge into the postseason and Quintana falls out of the rotation, he stated he would do “no matter it takes for the crew,” open to a spot within the bullpen.
However Quintana, who shall be a free agent at season’s finish, is hoping his efficiency forces the crew to maintain him the place he has been all 12 months.
“That’s a objective for me, to be within the rotation within the playoffs,” Quintana stated. “We have to win to deserve that.”
