Prior to Friday’s matchup between the Mets and the Chicago Cubs, manager Carlos Mendoza gave updates on three of his rehabbing pitchers…
Sean Manaea
Since Manaea’s last update of throwing from 105 feet earlier in the week, the left-hander is now up to 120 feet and “feeling good.”
“I think he was scheduled to play catch off the mound, not with the catcher squatting down, but off the mound,” Mendoza said.
There’s still no timetable for Manaea’s return, let alone a rehab assignment, but New York is hoping he doesn’t suffer any setbacks from his oblique injury this time around after getting shut down in mid-March due to discomfort.
He resumed throwing on April 14 after getting a platelet-rich plasma injection.
Frankie Montas
There continues to be good news with Montas, who is waiting to make his Mets debut this season.
Following his third bullpen session on Tuesday, the veteran right-hander is scheduled for another one on Friday. After that, the next step is hopefully facing live batters.
“He’s scheduled to throw a bullpen today, I think it’s his fourth one, so hopefully by the end of next week he’s facing hitters,” Mendoza said.
Paul Blackburn
The closest one of the three to returning to the big league club is Blackburn, who is currently on a rehab assignment.
After two starts with High-A Brooklyn, the right-hander moved up to Triple-A Syracuse where he pitched 3.2 innings on May 6, giving up one run on three hits and a walk while striking out five.
He’s scheduled to throw again on Sunday with Syracuse in Jacksonville.
“I think he’s up to 50-some pitches now,” Mendoza said. “He’s continuing to progress well.”
The skipper added that the goal is for Blackburn to reach 70-75 pitches, which he will likely reach after two or three more starts, before the Mets make a decision.
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