Mets’ Bartolo Colon will start Saturday on regular rest
New York Mets' starting pitcher Bartolo Colon throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins on Monday, Sept. 26, 2016. Credit: AP / Lynne Sladky
PHILADELPHIA — Ultimately, the Mets decided against overthinking their quandary. Which is why 43-year-old righthander Bartolo Colon will start against the Phillies on Saturday, as originally scheduled, rather than on short rest.
The Mets had pondered using Colon on Friday night — on three days’ rest — because it would line him up to pitch in Wednesday’s potential wild-card game with regular rest. It was an important fallback for the Mets. At the time the decision had to be made, if tomorrow’s regular-season finale turned out to be a must-win and Noah Syndergaard had to pitch, he would be unavailable for the wild-card game.
“We got together with everybody involved, including Bart,” manager Terry Collins said. “We just said you know what, they’ve all got to pitch this weekend anyway. So the best thing is not to try to get too cute, let them have their regular rest, let them do their regular routines and then go on from there.”
Colon has started on three days’ rest only once this season. On July 30 against the Rockies, he was battered for five runs and seven hits in five innings.
Extra bases
Wilmer Flores has been shut down for the rest of the season, depriving the Mets of a critical weapon against lefthanded pitching . . . After the Cardinals’ controversial walk-off win over the Reds on Thursday, Collins believes end-of-game replay rules might be clarified. “This ultimately can affect one team, or two teams, and a lot of money,” he said.
