The Mets will roll with Jose Quintana, Christian Scott and Luis Severino, in that order, in the series at Citi Field that begins Friday against the Braves.
The team is “having discussions” how to proceed after that, manager Carlos Mendoza said Wednesday.
At the moment, the Mets have five starters in a rotation that does not include Adrian Houser, who was skipped the last turn through and replaced by Scott.
But the Mets have left open the possibility of a six-man rotation — and likely will have one when Kodai Senga is ready to return, probably in June — which means they will have a decision to make by Wednesday.
After this weekend’s series, the Mets would be in line to pitch Sean Manaea and Jose Butto on Monday and Tuesday, respectively, in a home set against the Phillies.
By the time the series shifts to Philadelphia on Wednesday, they would have several options.
They could reinsert Houser; bring Quintana back on four days’ rest; or bring up another starter, such as Joey Lucchesi, who last pitched Wednesday with Triple-A Syracuse.
In the short sample size of two games, Quintana has allowed nine earned runs in 7 ²/₃ innings (10.57 ERA) when pitching on four days’ rest this season.
The 35-year-old has posted a 3.76 ERA in five starts with at least five days of rest.
Houser, a veteran who has acknowledged he is in the worst funk of his career, pitched to an 8.16 ERA in six starts before he was at least temporarily demoted from the rotation.
The righty has been available out of the bullpen since Monday, but the Mets have not needed him yet, which means he has not pitched since May 2.
“There’ll be innings for him,” Mendoza said, though when or in what role those innings will come remains unclear.
