The New York Mets are by no means the only team dealing with starting pitching injuries, but they'd love their struggles to be over nonetheless.
Thankfully, the Mets' few healthy starters have kept the team afloat so far this season, with an assist from their lights-out bullpen. But Sean Manaea and Frankie Montas going on the injured list back in spring training still could take a toll over the next few weeks.
Manaea was expected to be one of the Mets' top starters after re-signing on a three-year, $75 million contract. Instead, he's yet to make an appearance this season after suffering an oblique strain back in March.
On Monday, MLB.com Mets beat reporter Anthony DiComo revealed that Manaea was beginning to throw off flat ground again, but that out of caution, the Mets were limiting him from progressing any further over the next 10 days.
"Sean Manaea received an MRI today that showed improvement, and he resumed playing catch off flat ground," DiComo wrote on X. "He will not, however, progress beyond that over the next 10 days. The Mets want to make extra sure he's fine before pushing him."
Last season, Manaea had a 3.47 ERA and a team-high 184 strikeouts in 181 1/3 innings. He got better as the season progressed and had two excellent starts for New York in the playoffs, one each against the Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Dodgers.
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Looking down the line, Manaea will still be gone for quite some time. He'll need to progress from flat ground, to long toss, to bullpens, to facing live hitters, to eventually going on a rehab assignment.
The Mets do have the luxury of being 11-5 and in first place in the National League East. They don't have to rush anything, and if Manaea isn't back to his 2024 form by the trade deadline, they can also look to supplement their rotation with external additions.
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