The Mets’ rollercoaster season has reached another boiling point. Once considered a dominant force in the playoff race, they have now slipped to 13th in the wild card standings after eight straight losses from 6th to 13th September. Now that their margin for error has gone, Carlos Mendoza has been forced to lean largely on a new wave of stars in place of injured ace Kodai Senga.

Carlos Mendoza’s handling of the Kodai Senga situation has become one of the core questions of the Mets’ playoff push. Once regarded as the ace of the rotation, Senga’s season has turned into one of frustration. He was downgraded after posting a 6.56 ERA in eight major league starts, and while he has shown glimpses of improvement in the minors with a 3.72 ERA, his status remains unresolved. When asked directly if Senga would pitch in October, Mendoza gave only a four-word response: “I wouldn’t say definitely.”

Now, the question is who will take over Senga’s role in the side? As per ESPN’s David Schoenfield, “If the Mets are to hang on, the rookie starting pitcher trio of Nolan McLean, Jonah Tong, and Brandon Sproat will play a huge role. McLean continues to take over as the rotation ace while Sproat’s second career start was a beauty — six scoreless innings against the Rangers“, he added.

For context, McLean has been the clear breakout with a 1.19 ERA across his first six starts. He is carrying himself with the confidence of a veteran. Sproat has quickly earned praise, too, by flashing command and composure against the Rangers in just his second outing. However, Tong remains more unpredictable of the three. The 22-year-old rookie fired 5.0 innings of often-dominant ball and allowed one unearned run on four hits on Thursday’s game against the Padres. He struck out eight and threw 82 pitches on that day, with 59 going for strikes.

The broader question is whether this newcomer trio can really anchor a playoff push. Green highlighted McLean’s shift from two-way player to full-time pitcher as a key to his swift development, while Sproat has shown glimpses of maturity beyond his years. If Tong can find stability, the trio would not just keep the Mets afloat: they might end up building the foundation for the clubhouse’s future. For now, though, October dreams hang on their young shoulders.

However, the Mets’ playoff hopes do not hinge only on the rookies or Senga’s uncertain status; they also depend on how Carlos Mendoza manages the season’s most vital stretch.

What does Carlos Mendoza need to do in the Mets’ final 10 games?

With just 10 games left, every managerial move carries postseason weight. Carlos Mendoza’s current decision to stick with David Peterson against the Padres backfired when Manny Machado launched a crushing grand slam. Critics quickly highlighted that the Padres manager, Mike Shildt, pulled his own starter earlier in trouble, a contrast that highlighted Mendoza’s reluctance to manage with playoff urgency.

Such a hesitancy has been a recurring theme. Too often, the Mets manager has prioritized safeguarding stars for future games instead of treating the present like must-win battles. If the Mets are going to safeguard their wild card spot, the manager needs to shift strategies — leaning aggressively on his top bullpen stars and making quicker hooks with struggling starters. The margin for error is thin, and Mendoza’s decisions could prove just as decisive as the stars themselves.

The Mets’ postseason fate could come down to a fragile mix: rookies rising under pressure, a former star fighting to matter again, and Mendoza forced to make vital choices. With the margin razor-thin, every pitch counts.