PHILADELPHIA — On a night the Mets lost 11-3, with bats that were silent against an opposing starting pitcher for a fourth straight game, manager Carlos Mendoza determined the starting pitching has been the biggest problem of late.
A wild Clay Holmes allowed two strange runs in the first inning — after Sean Manaea surrendered four runs in the first two innings Tuesday — which set the tone of an eventual thrashing at Citizens Bank Park, where the Mets dropped a fifth straight.
“I think some guys from the rotation have had a tough stretch here,” Mendoza said of the through line of the losses. “When we’re playing a lot of games in a row and we’re not getting decent length or decent outings, it has a trickle effect. On the pitching staff, on the bats. The game is obviously different.
“Usually you’re down four or five runs, and then the at-bats are completely different.”
Which will make how the Mets handle Holmes and Manaea down the stretch curious.
David Stearns has acknowledged the club has talked about piggybacking starters — one pitcher going three or four innings before handing off to another — and Holmes and Manaea are intriguing possibilities because of their issues pitching deeper into games.
“We’re counting on them … we need those guys,” manager Carlos Mendoza said, although the role in which the Mets will need those pitchers remains unclear.
The Mets rotation is set through Sunday before an off-day Monday that Mendoza said will be used to talk through their pitching strategy. He has said Manaea will get another start “as of now.” It is unknown whether Holmes has earned one too after another four-plus-inning, four-run outing in which he allowed six hits, three walks and hit two.
The trouble started immediately during a 29-pitch first inning that contained zero hard-hit balls. Harrison Bader lightly singled into left. Kyle Schwarber walked. A sweeper hit Bryce Harper. J.T. Realmuto blooped an RBI single into center. After a strikeout, another errant sweeper hit Max Kepler to force in a second run.
“At that point we’re playing from behind,” said Holmes, who has a 3.75 ERA in 29 starts in his first season as a starter. “These games mean a lot, so can’t really afford to have those mistakes there.”
Holmes was unharmed again until the fourth, when a Realmuto single and Brandon Marsh RBI double knocked him from the game after 76 pitches.
Mendoza was attempting to be aggressive with a rested bullpen that then failed to keep the game close.
“It’s really just finishing off those outings,” said Holmes, although the club will decide how long it can go before trying something different.
Tylor Megill, whose rehab assignment with Triple-A Syracuse was shut down last weekend because of a recurrence of elbow discomfort, is seeking multiple opinions from doctors, Mendoza said.
On Sunday, Megill felt the same tightness on off-speed pitches that had surfaced in mid-June, when he was sent for an MRI exam that revealed inflammation and nothing more.
Mendoza said that he had not heard that Tommy John surgery was a possibility and did not want to speculate before learning a final diagnosis.
“Hopefully in the next 24, 48 hours, we’ll get some news there,” Mendoza said before the Mets played the Phillies on Wednesday.
For the first time this season, Mark Vientos batted third. Sandwiched between Juan Soto and Pete Alonso was the hottest Mets hitter for the past several weeks, who proceeded to go 0-for-3 with a walk and two strikeouts.
Since Aug. 17, Vientos had posted a 1.144 OPS with 10 home runs, 25 RBIs and a .304 average in 22 games entering play. He has turned his season around after a rough first four and a half months, owning a .633 OPS in mid-August (after he survived the trade deadline).
In the sixth straight day of games amid a stretch of 10 consecutive and against an opposing lefty, Mendoza rested Jeff McNeil.
Luisangel Acuña started at second base and went 0-for-2.
Jose Siri started at center field for a second straight day and struck out in both of his at-bats.
Cedric Mullins, who Mendoza has said will play more against righties, pinch hit against a righty in the seventh and walked before singling in the ninth.
Mendoza acknowledged what the club suspected in stating Jesse Winker will miss the rest of the season.
The DH, whose rehab assignment was shut down because of his back ailment, is consulting with doctors and “seeing what’s next,” Mendoza said.
Frankie Montas underwent Tommy John surgery and had bone chips removed in a procedure performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache.
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