NL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: METS VS DODGERS

October 17, 2024

Carlos Mendoza

Citi Field

New York Mets

Postgame 4 Press Conference

Dodgers - 10, Mets - 2

Q. Your pitching has been so good in the second half. When you look at this series, 30 runs in the four games, how much of that do you look at and say that's a pretty darned good lineup on the other side, versus we're just not executing the way that we were?

CARLOS MENDOZA: I think it's a combination of both. You've got to give them credit because that's a really good lineup and they can do a lot of different things. This is a team that controls the strike zone as well as anybody in the league. Not only do they do that, but when they force you in the zone they can do some damage.

And they've done that. They did it again today. They control the strike zone. They forced Quintana to come in on the strike zone. And when he did, they made him pay.

So, yeah, our starters, one of the reasons we're here, and we haven't got length out of them. They got them, and here we are now.

Q. Have you guys decided on who is going to start tomorrow?

CARLOS MENDOZA: Peterson is starting tomorrow.

Q. Why did you like José Buttó in that spot against Mookie Betts?

CARLOS MENDOZA: I'm looking for a ground ball, the two-seam right there. Just got behind in the count and left one up.

Q. How long do you anticipate Peterson to go? How long will that work with Senga? Is it a piggyback thing?

CARLOS MENDOZA: Peterson is fully rested. Last time he pitched was four days ago. So I'm anticipating him making a regular start.

Q. You talked about it a little bit, but how tough is it to navigate a lineup when you're trying to be careful with Ohtani, but there's a former MVP right behind him with Mookie Betts?

CARLOS MENDOZA: That's what makes that team such a good team. It's not only Ohtani, it's Mookie and Teoscar and it's Freddie, even though he wasn't there and the bottom of the lineup.

And you've got Muncy there, too, and Kiké doing things that Kiké does this time of the year.

I think it's a deep lineup, but the biggest thing is they're going to force you in the zone. They're not going to chase. When you do come in the zone you have to execute. Because if not, they're going to make you pay.

Q. You talked about all your starters you've got out of your starters through the season. Do you sense they're hitting a bit of a wall here?

CARLOS MENDOZA: Sean said it the other day. We ask a lot of these guys. And we're facing a good team. You've got to give those guys credit. That's a deep lineup. That's a good lineup. And whether those guys are feeling it or not we haven't executed and we haven't got length from them.

Q. With you guys facing elimination now, did you address the team after the game?

CARLOS MENDOZA: No, I did not.

Q. Do you plan to before --

CARLOS MENDOZA: I'll go in the same way I've been doing the whole year. I'll stop by the hitters meeting or the pitchers meeting, small settings. But I definitely will say something.

Q. The pinch-hitting spot with Winker there, was that something you'd planned? Or did that have anything to do with Alvarez getting hit his previous plate appearance?

CARLOS MENDOZA: I wanted a lefty there. I wanted a lefty. And I got the two of them that inning, McNeil and Winker. I thought it was more a righty/lefty match-up. I thought in that time of the game, that was the opportunity there.

Q. Do you think that Ohtani hitting the second pitch of the game out really set the tone for the whole evening? Big guys do big things in those situations?

CARLOS MENDOZA: Yeah, you could say that. But the solo shot wasn't going to beat us. Yeah, it was pretty impressive, but not only Ohtani, you have to take care of the other guys behind him.

But, yeah, when he goes out there first at-bat of the game and hits it like that, obviously it's a good feeling for them. We knew that wasn't going to beat us, but we couldn't just stop it.

Q. Would you anticipate having Senga from the bullpen if you need him tomorrow?

CARLOS MENDOZA: Yes, he will be available out of the bullpen tomorrow.

Q. What's the overriding factor in picking Peterson to start?

CARLOS MENDOZA: Facing an elimination game, he's fully rested. He's been one of our starters, one of our best starters. We just feel like he's going to give us the best chance.

Q. Yesterday you had mentioned kind of sticking with the lineup that you had because you trusted these guys. Do you anticipate making any significant changes tomorrow to kind of spark something?

CARLOS MENDOZA: It depends. I don't know that they announced who is pitching for them. I know before the game it was Flaherty but they weren't sure. So I've got to wait.

But, yeah, there could be some changes depending on who we're facing.