5 questions facing NY Mets as they head to NLCS

The Mets and their fans have three days to catch their breath.

After a rollicking two-week stretch that came with some of the top highlights in the history of the franchise, the Mets are awaiting their foe in the National League Championship Series , which begins Sunday at a site in California — either Petco Park in San Diego or Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.

Three days off provides the Mets with a chance to rest and regather after spending two weeks on the road between Milwaukee, Atlanta and Philadelphia.

As they begin to prepare for their first NLCS trip since 2015, here are five questions facing the team for their biggest series in nearly a decade:

What is the next step for Kodai Senga?

In his first start since late July when he went down with a high-grade calf strain, Kodai Senga tossed two innings and 31 pitches in Game 1 of the NLDS against the Phillies .

Senga allowed a leadoff home run to Kyle Schwarber before settling in to give up one walk and strike out three. The right-hander was lined up to start Game 5 and could receive some extra rest..

As for the length that Senga could provide, manager Carlos Mendoza said that "you take the bullets" that Senga could provide and don't waste Senga in a live batting practice scenario to try and stretch him out further.

"I don't think you put him in a live BP and then use him for a potential Game 4," Mendoza said. "I don't see that being a possibility."

That means don't be surprised if the Mets lean on either David Peterson, who threw 23 pitches Wednesday, or Tylor Megill in a length role out of the bullpen.

How does the rest of the Mets' rotation stack up?

The Mets have their full stable of pitchers available for their first seven-game series and it is likely to fall in line the same way it had in the Division Series. Now, how might they line it up?

In each of the first two series, Luis Severino started the opening game. Severino has lasted six innings in each of his first two starts. Against the Brewers, he worked through trouble in the early going. Against the Phillies, Bryce Harper and Nick Castellanos tagged him for home runs late.

But Sean Manaea might be better equipped to start on regular rest between Games 1 and 5. He is coming off arguably the most dominant start of the postseason for the Mets, holding the Phillies to one earned run across seven innings while striking out six and allowing three hits and two walks. He has a 2.25 ERA in two starts.

Jose Quintana has been the consummate pro in elimination games, tossing a combined 11 scoreless innings against the Brewers and Phillies in their series-clinching wins. He'll be lined up to pitch the second game at home in Game 4.

Will we see Jeff McNeil in the NLCS?

In the midst of the two NLDS games at Citi Field, Mendoza said there is a good chance that Jeff McNeil will be back for the championship series.

McNeil, who has been out since Sept. 6 with a fractured wrist, has returned to the team after his wife gave birth to their second child on Oct. 4. The Mets' second baseman rejoined the team in Philadelphia and has resumed all baseball activities.

"I don't have any pain there right now," McNeil said Sunday. "It's more just getting the range of motion back. It’s all feeling really good, so we're at the point where I’ve been doing baseball activities, been swinging the bat last week or so, and taking ground balls and running, it’s just getting back into that baseball shape and kind of take day to day."

McNeil will play in the Arizona Fall League this weekend to get more time on his feet on the diamond before making a return. The likeliest player for McNeil to replace would be Luisangel Acuña.

How will Mets' bullpen stand up in a seven-game series?

Edwin Diaz still left a little room for anxiety to creep in for Mets fans in their NLDS Game 4 clincher. Diaz walked the opening two batters in the inning but worked through with a pair of strikeouts and a fly ball, including fanning Kyle Schwarber on a 101-mph fastball.

Diaz has thrown 153 pitches across the Mets' last 10 games, dating back to their series finale with the Brewers during the regular season on Sept. 29. Can he hold up to the massive pressure that has been thrust his way?

"It's meant a lot to me," Diaz said Wednesday. "Last year I missed the entire season because of injury, and to be able to help this team all year long, in big moments, I've had my ups and downs, but at the end of the day, I've been able to do my job."

The contributions of Peterson and Megill out of the bullpen have been a godsend for Mendoza, but he's also leaned heavily on Phil Maton, Ryne Stanek and Reed Garrett. Maton has shown some wear, while Stanek and Garrett have been clutch.

It will be interesting to see whether Mendoza digs deeper and uses Adam Ottavino or Danny Young in the upcoming series.

Who's the Mets' next hero?

After coming away without a run in two bases-loaded opportunities early Wednesday night, Francisco Lindor made sure that the third chance did not go by the wayside.

Lindor's second career postseason grand slam — also the second in Mets history — lifted the Mets on their way to the championship series . It added to Lindor's iconic run, piling on to a go-ahead home run in the ninth inning for the Mets' postseason-clinching win in Atlanta.

Legendary: With one swing, Francisco Lindor gives Mets fans a Citi Field moment they'll never forget

"He's showing up in the biggest moments of the year consistently," said David Stearns, the Mets president of baseball operations. "I don't know if there's another player in baseball that you want at the plate right now in that situation. Everyone in the ballpark seemingly knew what was going to happen."

But the lift has not just been provided by Lindor. Pete Alonso pulled the Mets ahead with a three-run home run in Game 3 of the NL Wild Card series. Mark Vientos is batting .429 in the playoffs with a team-high seven RBI. Jesse Winker had a big home run in NLDS Game 3 and a go-ahead two-run triple in Game 1 of the NL Wild Card.

Brandon Nimmo has seven hits and six runs in seven postseason games. And then the pitching performances have come in waves. Who will provide the biggest boost in the NLCS?

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: 5 questions facing NY Mets as they head to NLCS