HARBOR ST. LUCIE – A day after SNY analyst Ron Darling said the Mets should go to a five-man rotation instead of “getting around” Kodai Senga’s preference to pitch in a six-man rotation, Senga threw live batting practice on a backfield and looked good again.
When Carlos Mendoza was asked about the possibility of moving to a five-man rotation, he told The Post that it is not a consideration at this time.
“We have six starters,” Mendoza said.
If everyone stays healthy, Senga will be joined in the rotation by Opening Day starter Freddy Peralta, Clay Holmes, David Peterson, Sean Manaea and Nolan McLean.
Of these starters, Mendoza said Peralta is likely the only one who won’t be asked to take an extra day of rest, but will talk to the rest of the rotation about using it.
Senga’s next appearance will come in a Grapefruit League game and the Mets are encouraged by the intensity he has brought on offense this spring.
And before they make any decisions about how to best utilize their rotation, they want to make sure everyone stays in good shape throughout the spring.
Last spring training, the Mets lost Manaea to a strained oblique and Frankie Montas to a strained lat.
So far, the rotation is in good shape – and they hope it stays that way as Holmes and McLean head to the WBC to pitch for Team USA.
Holmes was again impressive in Sunday’s 4-3 win over Houston at Clover Park, further integrating his cutter into his arsenal.
He allowed one run in four innings.
He threw the cutter 21 percent of the time on Sunday, compared to using it just 8.3 percent of the time a year ago.
Holmes said the pitch “felt good” and could help increase his sinker.
Mendoza added that if Holmes can use it effectively and add it to his sinker/sweeper mix, it will make the right-hander even better.
“There is so much movement, life, sinking and cutting on his fields,” the manager said.
The Mets announced after Sunday’s game that right-hander Alex Carrillo had been optioned to Triple-A Syracuse and left-handers Anderson Severino and Matt Turner were reassigned to minor league camp.
The moves left the Mets with 70 players in Major League camp.
Cristian Pache, best known for his defense in the outfield throughout his career, has hit well so far this spring.
He added a double Sunday.
“He’s an elite defender,” Mendoza said. “Offensively, given his at-bat quality, he hits the ball hard up the middle and runs the bases [well]. There are a lot of resources there. It’s good to see the results.”
St. John’s announced that the athletic department would honor the life of longtime Mets media relations officer and St. John’s alumna Shannon Forde on Tuesday during the men’s basketball game against Georgetown at Madison Square Garden.
Forde died ten years ago from breast cancer.
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