PHILADELPHIA -- At a time when the Mets’ rotation will use every bit of help it can get, Sean Manaea offers the realistic promise of better days to come.
Manaea threw 5 1/3 effective innings in his latest rehab outing Friday for Triple-A Syracuse, striking out seven. After allowing two hits and a run in his first inning, Manaea retired 15 consecutive batters to complete his afternoon.
Most importantly, Manaea stretched out to 62 pitches in the outing. He will likely need one more Minor League rehab start to extend into the 75-plus pitch range, after which the Mets will consider activating him. That would put Manaea’s return in the first week of July.
The Mets’ best pitcher last season, Manaea went 12-6 with a 3.47 ERA over 32 starts. He subsequently re-signed on a three-year, $75 million deal but strained his right oblique muscle in Spring Training and hasn’t pitched in a big league game since.
Vientos progressing
The Mets should see an even quicker return from Mark Vientos, who has been rehabbing a strained right hamstring since the first week of June. Vientos played the full game at third base behind Manaea at Syracuse and contributed a three-run double. He will continue to rehab throughout the weekend.
He will then meet the Mets for the start of their homestand Monday at Citi Field. If the team’s medical staff clears him, Vientos will be available that night for New York’s opener against the Braves.
Vientos was slashing .230/.298/.380 with six home runs in 53 games prior to his injury.