MIAMI — Sean Manaea is feeling as if much of his mojo has returned.
“I feel like I am going out there and attacking guys, not really falling behind on counts, not walking guys — that is the biggest thing,” the Mets left-hander said Saturday before the Mets’ 4-1 loss to the Marlins. “The velocity is up, and that is a plus. So I feel like I have a lot of quality weapons attacking guys.”
A night earlier, Manaea had a third straight solid relief appearance, allowing one earned run on four hits over 3 ²/₃ innings in the Mets’ 2-1 loss.
Maybe the worst is behind him. After an ugly April and beginning to May, he’s pitched to a 3.12 ERA with eight strikeouts over his past three appearances, spanning 8 ²/₃ innings. Overall, he owns a 5.81 ERA in 11 appearances this season.
In his latest outing, Manaea averaged 91.2 mph with his sinker. For the season he was averaging only 89.6 with that pitch.
Manaea credited the work he’s been putting in with assistant pitching coach Dan McKinney for paying dividends.
“He’s had some ideas on drills and mechanics and stuff we have kind of been implementing,” Manaea said. “But I also think that having more reps, feeling good in my body physically and ultimately more [work] have put me in a good place.”
Manaea was squeezed from the rotation near the end of spring training, with the possibility he would be utilized as a sixth starter. But after struggling early, he was essentially relegated to mop up relief.
His appearance in the second inning Friday, behind opener Tobias Myers, was among just a few higher-leverage opportunities this season.
“If it’s helping the team win, that is what I am here to do,” Manaea said. “It was a higher-leverage situation than being in a game down six [runs] or something.”
The Mets could use the continued contributions from Manaea, who isn’t even halfway through the three-year contract worth $75 million he signed before last season.
Manaea’s first year of the deal was a complete bust — he strained an oblique in spring training and didn’t rejoin the club until July. In 15 appearances, he pitched to a 5.64 ERA.
Manaea’s best work with the Mets was in 2024, when he pitched to a 3.47 ERA in 32 starts and emerged as the de facto staff ace.
“He’s in a really good place,” manager Carlos Mendoza said before the Mets’ loss on Saturday. “Beginning with that outing against the Yankees [on Sunday when he allowed two earned runs over four innings] it was a really good sign and then [Friday].
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“I thought just the way he is moving with his mechanics and the way the ball is coming out, I feel with like getting swings and misses with the fastball, especially at the top [of the strike zone] and just attacking, competing in the strike zone. There’s a lot to like right now and it’s good to see him being that guy, because we’re going to need him.”
Manaea was asked where he still feels there is need for improvement.
“It’s just like nitpicking, but just keep attacking guys,” Manaea said. “Not getting two balls before a strike and stuff like that, but ultimately I feel like I am headed in the right direction and feel good with where we are at.”
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