At a Citi Field news conference on Tuesday, Manager Carlos Mendoza revealed this JD Martinez will likely make his first NLCS start in Game 3.

Martinez struggled in September but went 4-for-14 in the first two rounds of the playoffs. The Dodgers are starting right-handed Walker Buhler So in Game 3, it’s a bit of a surprise that Mendoza said, “There’s a good chance” that Martinez will favor the designated hitter over left-handed hitting Jesse Winker.

Photo by: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

More news and notes from Mendoza’s press conference

Jose Quintana is officially the Game 4 starter, and Mendoza said “we’ll see” is his word on whether Kodai Senga would start game 5. It probably depends on the situation of the series and whether Senga’s mechanics feel right, which he said was a concern after his difficult Game 1.

Mendoza also commented on this Francisco Lindor is out on Tuesday as one of three finalists for the Gold Glove Award at shortstop. The finalists are Dansby Swanson, Masyn Winn And Ezequiel Tovar.

“If you ask (Lindor), all he will tell you is that he is not here to win personal awards,” Mendoza said. “He’s here to win the whole thing, which is the World Series, and that’s his goal.” However, he added, “He’s an elite defender. I was shocked that he wasn’t even in the final.”

Additionally, the Mets will wear their black jerseys in Game 3, a decision made by the starter Luis Severino: “I like black,” he said.