Sean Manaea throws gem but the offense and defense doomed Mets again

The Mets finally get good starting pitching but lack of execution ensures an 0-4 start to 2004

Andrew Steele

Apr 02, 2024

What’s Up with the Mets? ⚾️

New York finally got great starting pitching but the offense failed to show as the Mets lost 5-0 to the Tigers to fall to 0-4 to start the season (box)
The Mets are now 0-4 to begin a season for the first time since 2005
INF Joey Wendle’s error scored the first run of the game in extra-innings, before RHP Michael Tonkin gave up a three-run homer to C Carson Kelly to seal the deal
LHP Sean Manaea was stellar in his Mets debut, allowing just one hit and two walks with eight strikeouts in six innings pitched
The offense recorded just five hits all night and have now scored one run or less in three of their first four games of the year
RHP Jorge López and LHP Brooks Raley both tossed scoreless innings in relief
RHP Edwin Díaz struck out two and retired the side in a spotless ninth inning
RHP Yohan Ramírez accepted a two-game suspension for intentionally throwing at 1B Rhys Hoskins. The first of those games was served on Monday

Sean Manaea… 📚

Became the first pitcher in Mets history to throw at least six innings, allow only one hit and strike out at least eight in their Mets debut
The 5 2/3 inning no-hit bid was the longest by a pitcher in his Mets debut (Sarah Langs)

Injury Updates 🏥

RHP Tylor Megill placed on the 15-day IL with a right shoulder strain

Roster Moves 🗞️

RHP Reed Garrett recalled from Triple-A Syracuse

Prospect Watch 🔎

INF Jacob Reimer (No. 15) will be out until around June with a pulled hamstring
OF Wilfredo Lara (No. 23) and SS Boston Baro (No. 25) both suffered hamate fractures early in spring and will miss Opening Day

Rumor Mill 🤫

The Mets have re-engaged talks with veteran RHP Julio Teheran, who has other options too (SNY)

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Today’s Game 🗓

Match-up: Mets (0-4) vs. Tigers (4-0)

Where: Citi Field - Flushing, NY

Starters: RHP Adrian Houser vs. RHP Casey Mize

When: 7:10 PM EDT

Where to Watch: SNY

Sean Manaea shines, but boy, does the offense stink! ✍️

One worrying trend was stopped in its tracks by the Mets on Monday, although another continued.

Sean Manaea finally gave the starting pitching the shot in the arm it badly needed with an awesome outing on the mound. However, the gem of a start was wasted as the offense failed to deliver yet again.

Let’s start with the positive, shall we?

After the rotation laid an egg in the opening three games of 2024, the pressure was on Manaea to settle things down and stop fans from reaching for the panic button.

Well, he delivered.

The lefty was incredibly impressive and quite frankly, downright awesome, from the very get-go in his first start as a Met as he tossed 5 2/3 no-hit innings. He had eight strikeouts and breezed through much of his outing, retiring the first 12 batters he faced.

You couldn’t really have scripted a better Mets debut for Manaea.

Michael Baron and I spoke at length on the first episode of Just Mets The Podcast - listen HERE - about Manaea’s ability to be a real X-Factor for this rotation with his refined delivery. Of course, you can’t get too excited over one game, and there is the high potential for the veteran to be very up and down all year long.

However, there is no denying that Manaea’s upside is tantalizing and that was on full display on Monday. He needed just 70 pitches to strike out seven batters in the first five innings. Furthermore, Manaea elicited 17 called strikes and whiffs on his fastball, which he threw 63 percent of his pitches.

If this is the version of Manaea the Mets get for the duration of the year - and that is a big ask based on the lefty’s last couple of seasons - then the ceiling of the rotation will be raised.

Whatever happens from here on out, though, Manaea’s gem was the perfect tonic given what came before with the rotation.

It’s just a shame his teammates couldn’t help him out.

Joey Wendle - also making his Mets debut - made a fateful error in the 10th inning that scored a run. Michael Tonkin imploded from that point on and it was game over with the Mets lineup unable to put up a fight in their half of the inning.

As was the case all night.

Shutout for the first time this year, it was also the third time in four games the lineup had scored one run or fewer.

Yeah, that just isn’t going to get the job done. They’re completely anemic at the plate right now as a unit. It doesn’t matter who Mets manager Carlos Mendoza puts out there, what the lineup configuration is, or anything, either.

Granted, Starling Marte went 2-for-4 and looks healthy. Francisco Álvarez also got on base as he continues to put the ball in play at a high clip to begin the year.

That was as good as it got, however.

If the top of your lineup, if your big hitters, don’t perform to the back of their baseball cards, then you have very little hope of winning baseball games.

Brandon Nimmo, Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso continued to struggle, with the latter two both going 0-for-4 on the day. Nimmo did draw his first walk of the year, but he was unable to come up with a clutch hit in the leadoff spot.

Jeff McNeil, who was on an off day, entered the game as a pinch hitter in the ninth inning with a runner on first, but he struck out swinging and has just one hit to begin the year.

Nimmo, Lindor and McNeil are a combined 3-for-44 at the plate to start the season.

It was just another poor showing from an anemic offense that went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position, leaving nine stranded on base.

Four games into a 162-game season is a very small sample size, obviously, but you would also have to be in denial to ignore the fact that this lineup just isn’t executing. It is also concerning the team’s big guns are all off to such a slow start collectively.

There is also the fact that this team is playing some awful, hard to watch, sleep-inducing baseball. There has been no spark or any real urgency through the first four games, and that has to change. And quick.

On a night when the Mets got a stellar outing - finally - from one of their starters, the offense again crapped the bed and the clouds continue to settle over Citi Field after an alarming 0-4 start.

Expectations were low, but I don’t think anyone could have predicted such a troubling and uninspiring start to the year for the Mets.

Around the League 🚩

RHP Ronel Blanco, in just his eighth career start, tossed the first no-hitter of the 2024 season as the Astros beat the Blue Jays, 10-0. It was the earliest no-hitter in MLB history
RHP Mike Clevinger and the Chicago White Sox are in agreement on a contract, pending a physical
LHP Shota Imanaga sparkled in his MLB debut, not giving up a run on two hits and striking out nine as the Cubs beat the Rockies, 5-0
1B Connor Joe went 2-for-4 with two RBIs as the Pirates beat the Nationals 8-4 to begin a season 5-0 for the first time since 1983
OF Mike Trout hit two home runs - the second of which travelled 473 ft - as the Angels beat the Marlins, 7-4
3B Josh Jung went 3-for-4 with a home run and four RBIs as the Rangers beat the Rays, 9-3. It was also revealed after the game that Jung has a fractured wrist