PORT ST. LUCIE — When the Mets arrived at spring training, their intention was to go with a six-man rotation from the outset of the regular season.
One Frankie Montas lat strain later and Carlos Mendoza’s current lean, he told The Post, is to go with a five-man rotation for the first three weeks of the season. That’s because with three early off-days every Mets starter through April 16 — or until the 18th game of the season — would have at least five days’ rest.
That is assuming no rainouts, for example, that can scuttle that strategy. David Stearns suggested possible nuance with the potential of piggy-backing the No. 5 spot early, which would mean six starters, but for every five games. Envision that with full health, the locks are Clay Holmes, Sean Manaea, David Peterson and Kodai Senga, then the fifth spot could be a tandem, choosing among Paul Blackburn, Griffin Canning and Trevor Megill — with Megill the likeliest odd man out because he has minor league options. Blackburn and Canning do not.
Because the first spring training game is not until Saturday — with Holmes starting — the Mets are not cementing any decision. And, in the big picture, going with six starters looks good on paper, but it is tough to live with a seven-man pen rather than eight while operating in the modern game with how little is asked innings-wise out of a rotation. A short start or injury can wreck strategies.
