NL DIVISION SERIES: METS VS PHILLIES

October 6, 2024

Carlos Mendoza

Citizens Bank Park

New York Mets

Pregame 2 Press Conference

Q. Severino was really leaned on the fastball against Milwaukee, and all year. Is it a matter of game planning for a guy with what he feels best with? How much do you weigh that versus what the other team does really well? How likely is it he steps into a different strategy today against this lineup?

CARLOS MENDOZA: You got to stick to your strength, and whether he's a fastball, the two-seam, the four-seam. The biggest thing is he's got to get ahead, he's got to stay on the attack. This is going to be an aggressive team. They're going to attack them.

I think he's not only have to have a really good game plan but he's got to go out there and execute. He's got weapons, but I think not only going out there and executing his game plan, but having the ability to make adjustments as the game goes on, too.

Q. The top of this Phillies lineup, Schwarber lefty, Trea Turner, and then Bryce is a lefty, but Schwarber has hit lefties particularly well this year. As you game plan later in games, has it changed the way you think it's necessarily helpful to have a lefty for that particular one, two, three of the Phillies?

CARLOS MENDOZA: Yeah, I think they've both been really good against lefties this year. But I think it's just where you're at in the game, whether you're up, you're down, how many runs, where the damage against a lefty versus against the righty. Not only a righty, but who's that righty that you got available.

Those are some of the things that we go through before we make those decisions. Look, they're really good hitters. So whether you throw a righty, whether you throw a lefty, I think you've just got to go with what you feel is the best matchups, regardless lefty or righty, and where you're at in the game as far as like the score. There's a lot of things. But they're really good hitters.

Q. Just from your side, Senga after the game, any reports the next day of how he's doing? Is he lined up as necessary for you guys?

CARLOS MENDOZA: We've got to wait not only today, but tomorrow, we'll have a better idea and see where we're at. And hopefully he continues to feel good and he continues to be a player for us moving forward. But it was a good sign last night. I haven't seen him today. Again, I think we've just got to wait, not only today, but get through tomorrow after he plays catch, and we'll have a better idea.