By Sunday 
New York Faces Pitching Concerns as Season Approaches
The New York Mets suffered a 5-1 loss to the Houston Astros on Thursday, dropping their Spring Training record to 4-7. Despite having star players Francisco Lindor, Juan Soto, and Pete Alonso in the lineup, the offense managed just one run—a Lindor RBI single in the fourth inning.
While wins and losses aren’t the main focus in Spring Training, player health is a critical concern. Unfortunately for the Mets, injuries are already impacting their roster, particularly their pitching staff.
Injury Woes in the Starting Rotation
The Mets are currently without two key arms—Sean Manaea and Frankie Montas—both expected to play major roles in the starting rotation. On Thursday, Mets GM David Stearns provided an update on Manaea’s recovery process.
“David Stearns says Sean Manaea will have his right oblique retested and reimaged on Monday or Tuesday and will progress into a throwing program if all results come back good,” SNY reported on X.
Stearns confirmed that Manaea will undergo further testing early next week. If his results are positive, the left-hander will begin a throwing program, taking a crucial step toward his return.
Mets Face Rotation Uncertainty
Manaea, who signed a three-year, $75 million contract extension this offseason (with deferred payments through 2044, per Spotrac), was rewarded for a stellar 2024 campaign. He logged a career-high 181.2 innings, finishing with a 12-6 record and a 3.47 ERA.
Even if he resumes throwing next week, Manaea is unlikely to be ready for Opening Day. That leaves the Mets in a difficult position as they look to fill the gap in their rotation. With Montas also sidelined, New York may have to explore alternative options to stabilize its pitching staff before the regular season begins.