Sean Manaea’s Impressive Performance in Mets’ Victory

Sean Manaea seems to be making a case for himself to leave Queens.

After a strong outing against the Dodgers last week—his best start of the season—the left-hander faced another top-tier team on Wednesday and delivered a similar performance.

He surrendered only two runs over six innings, leading the Mets to a 3-2 win against the Braves in the first game of a doubleheader at Citi Field. This marked the Mets’ third win in a row.

These last two games have undoubtedly been Manaea’s highlight moments, showcasing the talent the Mets have been eager to see all season, especially with the approaching trade deadline on Monday.

The lingering question is whether the approximately $33 million left on his contract will complicate matters. However, if his recent performances are any guide, he may have rekindled the skills that earned him a substantial three-year $75 million deal before last season.

Against the Dodgers, Manaea pitched six innings with just one unearned run allowed. In this game, the Mets were scoreless until the sixth, when Matt Olson hit a two-run homer.

Freddy Peralta and Clay Holmes are expected to join the Mets’ starting rotation by Monday. Both players are set to enter free agency post-season. While they’ve proved their worth, Peralta’s current 4.99 ERA hasn’t been beneficial for the Mets. Holmes, recovering from a fractured fibula, hasn’t played since May but has been progressing through rehab and is prepared to return.

Manaea is a crucial variable; he stood out as a key player when the Mets reached the NLCS in 2024. Despite struggling last year, he began the season in the bullpen but has gradually found his rhythm again.

In his latest outing, Manaea recorded five hits, two walks, and four strikeouts on 89 pitches, lowering his ERA to 4.42.

In the fifth inning, Francisco Alvarez hit a double into the left field seats, scoring the first run of the game. Tyrone Taylor got on base with a walk in the first inning, leading to Alvarez’s 27th RBI of the season. AJ Ewing’s sacrifice fly then brought in Brett Batty, who had singled earlier.

In the sixth inning, Manaea connected with a two-run homer by Olson that tied the game at 2-2. Earlier, Drake Baldwin led off the first inning with a double, and Olson smashed his 28th home run of the season over the right-center fence.

Then, in the seventh inning, Carson Benge’s RBI double put the Mets ahead 3-2, following walks from both Ewing and Francisco Lindor that ignited the rally.