The New York Mets are poised for another exciting season after their 2024 NLCS run. The team signed superstar Juan Soto and retained slugger Pete Alonso, forming a tantalizing trio with shortstop Francisco Lindor.
All three of them are healthy, which will put the Mets in a position to start hot in the regular season. Opening Day is on March 27, when they’ll start a three-game road set with the Houston Astros.
However, the pitching is another story. Clay Holmes, who led the league with 13 blown saves last season, is scheduled as their Opening Day starter. Meanwhile, Kodai Senga will lead the rotation after tossing only 5.1 innings due to injury in 2024.
What’s more, southpaw Sean Manaea (oblique) won’t be available to start the season, which is very unfortunate when considering his performance last season. However, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza gave an encouraging update on Wednesday, via SNY.
“He’s throwing, I think he’s up to 90 feet,” the second-year skipper said.
Manaea should be back in mid-to-late April, per SNY. The 33-year-old projects as the No. 2 starter behind Senga and went 12-6 with a 3.47 ERA and 1.08 WHIP in 32 appearances last season.
Manaea spent his first six seasons with the Athletics before they traded him to the San Diego Padres in 2022. The 6-foot-5-inch, 245-pounder then signed a two-year deal with the San Francisco Giants that December before opting out and inking another one with New York in January 2024.
Manaea then opted out of that deal last November before signing a three-year $75 million contract with the team in December.
