The Mets’ pitching plans for their final, and most important, series of the regular season against the Miami Marlins still appear to be up in the air as they sit a game up on the Cincinnati Reds for the final Wild Card spot in the National League. Brandon Sproat will toe the rubber in the first game of the set on Friday night at loanDepot Park, which would line him up to start Game 2 of a potential Wild Card series against the Los Angeles Dodgers behind Nolan McLean, but the club has yet to set the rest of its rotation for this weekend.

It seems likely that David Peterson will start Sunday on standard rest after allowing five earned runs over 1 1/3 innings on Tuesday against the Chicago Cubs, and the Mets could once again piggyback Sean Manaea with Clay Holmes on Saturday after both pitchers threw an inning out of the bullpen on Wednesday at Wrigley Field. Manaea in particular struggled in that contest, however, as his ERA rose to 5.80 after giving up two earned runs.

Jonah Tong isn’t an option in Miami after starting on Wednesday, and it would come as a surprise if Kodai Senga were to be called upon after recently completing a live batting practice session in Florida that manager Carlos Mendoza described as being “just okay.”

After a busy series f0r the bullpen in Chicago, the configuration of the unit could look different in the days to come. The New York Post’s Mike Puma reported that right-hander Dylan Ross, a 13th-round pick in 2022, could join the Mets as soon as Saturday with the minor league season over. He has some command issues to iron out, but after posting a stellar 2.17 ERA with 13.3 strikeouts per nine over 54 innings this year, his big-league debut may come in a big spot for New York.

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Edwin Díaz threw a combined 35 pitches over his two saves against the Cubs, though the fact that he only threw seven on Thursday after a day off on Wednesday means that he could be available on Friday. Tyler Rogers‘ status for the beginning of the Marlins series is less clear, however, after allowing an inherited runner to score over a pair of outings totaling 46 pitches in Chicago, with 15 of them coming on Thursday.

Gregory Soto threw just three pitches against the Cubs on Tuesday and has had two days off in a row, making him a well-rested option for Mendoza in Miami. Brooks Raley, the Mets’ only other left-handed reliever at the moment after designating Richard Lovelady for assignment, has given up an earned run in just one of his last 10 outings and kept Chicago scoreless over an inning and 14 pitches on Thursday, meaning he may still be available on Friday.

Ryan Helsley has rounded into form recently with five-straight scoreless appearances, and he should be good to go on Friday as well after not pitching on Thursday. Mendoza may choose to stay away from Stanek right off the bat in Miami, though, as he threw 37 pitches over two clean outings against the Cubs, with 12 of them coming on Thursday.

Huascar Brazobán had to throw 33 pitches in relief of Peterson on Tuesday, so perhaps Mendoza will avoid using him on Friday, but he should otherwise be ready if needed. Kevin Herget, who was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse on Thursday, shouldn’t have any restrictions after last pitching on September 20. He’s posted a 3.00 ERA in 12 innings for New York this season.

Other bullpen arms who are rested and currently on the 40-man roster include Jonathan Pintaro, Austin Warren, Brandon Waddell and Justin Hagenman, the latter three of whom have frequented the Mets as long relievers and spot starters this season. Pintaro allowed two earned runs in 2/3 of an inning in the only major league appearance of his career against the Atlanta Braves on June 25 and finished the minor league campaign with a 4.28 ERA across 82 frames. Warren, on the other hand, has pitched to a 0.96 ERA in 9 1/3 innings for the Mets while Waddell and Hagenman have posted marks of 3.45 and 4.56, respectively, in that category.