CINCINNATI — Sean Manaea has pitched like an elite starting pitcher over the past six games dating back to last season.
The Mets left-hander opened the season with one earned run in 11 innings.
He finished last season with the Giants by allowing six earned runs in four starts and 24 innings.
Years later, Manaea has a 1.80 ERA in his last six games.
Did the Mets really find a bargain in a pitcher who is owed $14.5 million this season and has a $13.5 million player option next year?
At least that’s a possibility after Manaea got off to two solid starts with a 3-1 win over the Reds on Sunday at Great American Ball Park, giving up one run in five innings.
“All the effort I’ve put in, everything, just feeling good and trying to be consistent. At the end of the day, that’s all I can ask for,” Manaea said. said after striking out six and allowing three hits and two walks. “Everything feels good right now, so keep going.”
The effort was necessary after Manaea was taken out of the Giants’ rotation early last season.
In mid-May, he posted a 7.96 ERA and was demoted to reliever/swingman, where he began to find himself.
Manaea’s ball speed improved dramatically, he added a sweeper and returned to the rotation, finishing the year with good results. This caught the attention of the Mets.
Manaea’s sweeper drew 10 hacks from Reds batters, with five whiffs.
His four-seam fastball averaged 93.3 mph, replacing a sinker that averaged 91.2 mph in 2022.
His play led to many whiffs, but he had trouble striking out Luke Mayle in his 13-pitch, third-inning at-bat, resulting in a strikeout.
He threw 29 pitches in the first inning, which combined with a 27 pitch count in the fourth, cost him the chance to advance to the later innings.
What didn’t help was getting hit on two pitches by Jonathan India and later Ellie Delacruz, 0-2.
“It wasn’t until I heard the order that I realized he was really good,” coach Carlos Mendoza said. He said, “I thought he had the qualities to go deep in today’s game, but…” [the Reds] It was like increasing the pitch count. ”
The Reds scored in the fourth inning, with a walk, a single, and Dela Cruz’s hit by a pitch, with no outs and the bases loaded.
However, the Reds only scored on Santiago Espinal’s sacrifice fly as Manaea induced a Bubba Thompson double play that was well returned by Brett Batty.
“That was huge,” Manaea said. “It was just what we needed.”
Brooks Lally, Adam Ottavino and Edwin Diaz pitched scoreless innings in their third game in four days.
Diaz recorded his second save of the series and season, which was important for the Mets and a friendly bet with Reds closer Alexis Diaz.
The brothers who have fewer saves in head-to-head matches will have to buy dinner for the entire family.
Edwin is 2, Alexis is 0.
Outfield prospect Drew Gilbert was placed on the seven-day injured list with a minor hamstring strain after leaving Saturday’s game against Triple-A Syracuse.
Max Kranik (hamstring injury) has begun his rehab assignment at St. Lucie.
The right-handed starting pitcher had two outs on 22 pitches, two hits, one walk, and one strikeout.
