Sean Manaea is pitching like somebody who wants out of Queens.
After frustrating the Dodgers last week in his best start of the season, the left-hander returned to face another first-place team on Wednesday and produced a similar result.
Manaea allowed two runs over six innings in the Mets’ 3-2 victory over the Braves in the first game of a doubleheader at Citi Field. The win was the Mets’ third straight.
These last two starts were certainly peak Manaea — the version the Mets have awaited all season. The crescendo builds as Monday’s trade deadline approaches.
At issue is how much of an obstacle the roughly $33 million that Manaea is still owed through next season presents. But if Manaea’s last two starts are any indication he may have rediscovered the form that earned him a three-year, $75 million contract before last season.
Manaea allowed one earned run over six innings against the Dodgers last Friday. He carried a shutout into the sixth inning on this day before Matt Olson delivered a two-run homer.
Freddy Peralta and Clay Holmes are the likely members of the Mets starting rotation to be dealt by Monday. Both are headed to free agency after this season and are battle-tested arms, but Peralta’s 4.99 ERA this season isn’t helping the Mets. Holmes hasn’t pitched for the team since May while rehabbing a fractured fibula, but is close to ready following two minor league rehab starts.
The wild card is Manaea, who emerged as the Mets’ ace during their 2024 surge to the NLCS. After slumping last year he began this season in the bullpen and gradually regained steam.
Manaea’s ERA dropped to 4.42 with his latest outing, in which he allowed five hits and two walks with a hit batter and four strikeouts over 89 pitches.
Francisco Alvarez’s rope double to left field in the fifth produced the game’s first run. Tyrone Taylor drew a walk leading off the inning before Alvarez delivered for his 27th RBI this season. A.J. Ewing’s ensuing sacrifice fly scored Brett Baty, who singled in the inning.
Manaea finally dented in the sixth, when Olson smashed a two-run homer to tie it 2-2. Drake Baldwin doubled leading off the inning before Olson cleared the fence in right-center for his 28th homer this season.
Carson Benge’s RBI double in the seventh gave the Mets a 3-2 lead. Ewing and Francisco Lindor both walked to begin the rally.
