Remember when Sean Manaea couldn’t make it out of the fifth inning this year?
When he would flash the strikeout stuff, but also walk too many batters and hand the ball to the bullpen with at least twelve outs to get.
Well, that was first half Manaea. And when the Mets started winning toward the All-Star break, Manaea continued to work, dropped his arm slot, and has turned out an ace-like second half.
Brad Penner-Imagn Images
In 13 starts post All-Star break, Manaea is 11-2 with a 3.09 ERA in 81 2/3 innings. Length has also been a strong suit, with the lefty recording at least six innings in 10 of his 13 starts.
It was no different on Monday, where Manaea turned out a much needed, shutdown outing against the Nationals. He carved up the young and improved division rival Nationals, striking out six across seven innings of one-run ball.
He kept young phenom James Wood to a single, 2023’s No. 2 overall draft pick Dylan Crews 0-for-4, and set the Mets up for their dramatic comeback win where they scored runs in the eighth and tenth innings.
It was yet another exclamation point by Manaea. And another page in the impressive book he’s been writing in September. In four starts this month, the lefty is 4-0 with a 1.98 ERA in 27 1/3 innings.
“I’ve learned the hard way, when you stop trying to put in the work and get better bad things will happen,” Manaea said on his strong season. “I never want to be caught off guard like that again.”
Outing after outing, Manaea has given the Mets a chance to win, which the team has taken as they’re 11-2 in his second-half starts. It’s all coming together for the starter and the Mets as they continue to win and chase a playoff spot this season.
“As far as I’m concerned, we’re in a playoff atmosphere,” Manaea said on his one-run performance. “We’ve got to take it like that every day.”
Zooming in, Manaea has established himself as one of the best starters in the majors this season. He’s 15th in the majors in ERA and seventh in the National League.
He’s pitched well above his contract, and has solidified himself as the ace of the Mets staff in a season where the club has gotten one start from Kodai Senga.
Sean Manaea overpowers James Wood to work out of trouble in the third pic.twitter.com/E9aTXS5ojb
— SNY (@SNYtv) September 16, 2024
Manaea is one massive reason the Mets are in a pennant race right now. He leads the rotation in starts (30), wins (11), strikeouts (177), WHIP (1.082), and is second in ERA (3.26). Manaea would easily get the Game 1 start if the Mets secured a playoff spot.
And that’s a testament to how good Manaea has been this season. Not the Mets’ position as a team. Manaea has been a top 10 pitcher in the NL this season, and is easily in the conversation for the Cy Young award.
No, he won’t win due to Chris Sale‘s renaissance in Atlanta, but he’ll garner votes. Heck, Manaea could finish in the Top 5 by the season’s end.
As pointed out by Anthony DiComo, Manaea ranks second in the NL in games started, fourth in Win Probability added, fifth in WHIP, sixth in ERA and ERA+, seventh in strikeouts, ninth in innings, and 12th in wins.
The numbers speak for themselves. Manaea, along with Luis Severino, has been a great sign by David Stearns and will continue to push the Mets toward the pennant in a year where they were supposed to be retooling.
Manaea’s next two starts especially will factor into whether or not the Mets are playoff-bound. The lefty’s next start is against the Phillies, who tagged him for six earned runs in 3 2/3 innings back on June 8.
Then, it’ll be the Braves, indisputably the biggest series of the season. Unsurprisingly to say the least. As of now, the Mets will enter Atlanta desperately needing the tiebreaker over the Braves. Manaea hasn’t faced them this season, but will look to leave his mark on the mound with the season on the line.
The post Mets Leaning on Sean Manaea in Cy Young-Worthy Season appeared first on Metsmerized Online.
