Jose Quintana has pitched in the big leagues for 13 seasons, throwing in 365 games throughout his career. Yet, only six of those games have come in the postseason. The left-hander is one of the most experienced hands on a veteran-laden pitching staff, but in terms of playoff appearances, he ranks somewhere in the middle, with more postseason appearances than left-hander Sean Manaea but far fewer than right-hander Luis Severino, who is up to 13 now after making 11 with the Yankees.
So when Quintana takes the mound at Citi Field on Wednesday afternoon to face the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLDS, he’ll do so with the understanding that it will be the most important start of his career.
“I think at this point, every game is Game 7 for me and for all of my teammates,” Quintana said Tuesday at Citi Field. “We’ve been fighting a lot in all situations. Like I say, every play, every game means a lot.”
The Mets have been fighting for their lives for a month already, sneaking into the postseason the day after the regular season wrapped up for 28 other teams. With the way the Wild Card standings shook out, the Mets had to play every game as if it was Game 7 of the World Series.
It can be an exhausting way to play, but this team had an exhausting schedule that didn’t seem to have any negative effects anyway, so maybe they’re onto something.
“My approach never changes,” Quintana said. “Use the best effort. We have a good scouting report, good plan to make it tomorrow.”
Quintana’s approach may not change but there’s no doubt the left-hander has evolved since entering the league as a 23-year-old in 2012. Now 35, he wouldn’t still be here if he hadn’t. As recently as August, the Mets were facing questions about whether or not they could afford to keep him in the lineup.
He struggled in May and June, and then went 0-3 with an 8.27 ERA in his first four starts in August. But he did a complete 180, going 3-0 with a 0.36 over his last four regular season starts. That included a stretch of three straight scoreless outings (20 2/3 innings).
Quintana cleaned up his mechanics to raise his arm slot, which makes it look like all of his pitches are the same out of the hand. He’s releasing them from the same point and they’re tunneling the same before darting and diving in different directions.
It has allowed him to better control the count and he’s walked fewer hitters as a result.
“That was the biggest adjustment I did during the season, getting more consistency,” Quintana said. “For sure, better results every time I throw the ball.”
Left-hander Ranger Suarez will oppose Quintana in Game 4.
EMBRACING THE CHAOS
Phillies fans tried to create a hostile environment over the weekend at Citizens Bank Park and became so hostile they not only booed their own players, but they booed Mets’ outfielder Brandon Nimmo when he was injured.
It hasn’t fazed the Mets one bit.
Now that they’re finally back home in their own ballpark, Mendoza advised his team to embrace the crowds while still maintaining their focus.
“We saw it in Philly the last day, where it was pretty intense and electric,” Mendoza said. “Before you know it, they’re booing their own players, and then within five minutes, they’re, they’re cheering again…
“It’s beautiful.”
SQUIRRELY JEFF
The Mets are still trying to figure out how to get Jeff McNeil at-bats against live pitching. One idea is to have him play in Arizona Fall League games, an idea they got from their opposition. Phillies leadoff hitter Kyle Schwarber missed much of the 2016 season with the Chicago Cubs after tearing his ACL and LCL in a collision with teammate Dexter Fowler in the outfield. To get him ready for a potential World Series appearance, the Cubs sent him to play in the Fall League.
It’s the best option for McNeil, with Hurricane Milton putting things on hold down in Florida.
“I think it’s just more time on his feet, like playing for defense nine innings or seven innings, whatever the case might be, as opposed to just getting live at-bats,” said manager Carlos Mendoza. “It’s like he’s playing real games.”
The Mets are talking with the league about whether or not it might be possible since the AFL is typically reserved for top prospects, some of whom might need playing time after injuries during their minor league seasons.
