Mets' Manaea Impresses, Pushing for Rotation Spot

Veteran lefty's strong relief outing has manager Mendoza reconsidering six-man rotation

Apr. 13, 2026 at 3:38pm

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A cubist-style painting depicting a baseball pitcher's motion broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes in the Mets' team colors of blue and orange.Manaea's strong relief outing has the Mets reconsidering their pitching rotation options.NYC Today

New York Mets relief pitcher Sean Manaea impressed in a three-inning, four-strikeout outing against the Athletics, leading manager Carlos Mendoza to reconsider expanding the team's rotation to six starters. Manaea's velocity has improved, and he has a 2.25 ERA and 10 strikeouts in 12 innings this season, suggesting he could transition back into the starting rotation.

Why it matters

The Mets' rotation has struggled at times, with Kodai Senga getting rocked in his last start and David Peterson failing to solidify the lone left-handed spot. Manaea's strong performance could push Mendoza to add him to the rotation, potentially as the sixth starter to give the staff more rest between outings.

The details

Manaea, a veteran southpaw, was forced out of the starting rotation to begin the season due to inconsistencies and velocity issues in spring training. However, in Sunday's 1-0 loss to the Athletics, he threw three scoreless, hitless innings with four strikeouts and zero walks, saving the Mets' overworked bullpen. Mendoza praised Manaea's aggressiveness and effectiveness, noting that his fastball velocity is improving, averaging 89.3 mph on Sunday compared to 88.4 mph in his previous outing.

  • On April 12, 2026, Manaea threw three scoreless, hitless innings against the Athletics.
  • On April 8, 2026, Manaea pitched against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The players

Sean Manaea

A veteran left-handed pitcher for the New York Mets who was forced out of the starting rotation to begin the 2026 season due to inconsistencies and velocity issues in spring training.

Carlos Mendoza

The manager of the New York Mets, who has not been considering expanding the team's rotation to six starters but may now reconsider that stance based on Manaea's strong performance.

Kodai Senga

A right-handed pitcher for the New York Mets who was rocked in his last outing, allowing seven runs on eight hits in just 2.1 innings.

David Peterson

A left-handed pitcher for the New York Mets who has not done much to prove he should be the lone southpaw in the rotation, entering Monday night's game with a 6.14 ERA and having yielded 10 earned runs in his last 9.1 innings.

Christian Scott

A pitcher in the Mets' minor league system who is rehabbing from Tommy John surgery and recently spun five shutout innings with seven strikeouts for Triple-A Syracuse.

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What they’re saying

“He was very good. He attacked with two strikes. The fastball continues to have life. The delivery, the way he's moving, I like the aggressiveness of Sean overall, but he stayed on the attack. Not only did he give us three innings, but he kept us there. He gave us a chance.”

— Carlos Mendoza, Manager

What’s next

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The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.