Each day that goes by, Mets left-hander Sean Manaea gets closer and closer to returning to the team.
He took another positive step in that direction on Monday after throwing 29 pitches in a live bullpen that “went well,” according to manager Carlos Mendoza.
“We just gotta wait and see how he responds in the next couple of days and then we’ll have that discussion whether he’s gonna need another live BP or he’s ready to go on a rehab assignment,” the skipper added.
Of course, a rehab assignment would be the last hurdle for Manaea to cross before joining the Mets for the first time this season since he suffered a right oblique strain at the start of spring training after re-signing with New York on a three-year, $75 million contract.
Still, given how long he’s been out (after experiencing a setback in April with discomfort and inflammation), the 33-year-old will likely need some more time pitching in rehab games when he does eventually take that next step.
Another injured pitcher is also on his way back to the Mets as reliever Brooks Raley, who signed a one-year deal earlier this season, has already thrown three live bullpen sessions.
“He’s already facing hitters and all that so yeah he’ll continue to face hitters and then he’ll get to a point where he’ll go on a rehab assignment,” Mendoza said.
The lefty reliever is recovering from Tommy John surgery he got at the beginning of the 2024 season.
Meanwhile, Jose Siri (fractured tibia) is with the team on their West Coast road trip as the trainers continue to monitor the outfielder as he continues to do more baseball activities. However, “he’s not close yet” to re-joining the team.
“He’s gotta continue his running progression, build volume and then once he clears that hurdle then we’ll start talking about a potential rehab assignment, but I don’t think that’s happening soon,” Mendoza said.
As for Monday night’s starter, Paul Blackburn is making his season debut after multiple injuries kept him off the field since the end of last year. It will be Blackburn’s first start in the majors since Aug. 23 against the San Diego Padres.
Mendoza noted that the right-hander will have no limitations on the mound after the Mets took their time with him, letting him make seven rehab starts between three minor league levels where he finished with a 3.68 ERA (1.09 WHIP).
“We took our time to make sure that he was fully built up and he’s making this start and he’s going there as a normal pitcher,” Mendoza said. “I’m gonna treat it the same and hopefully he goes out there and does what he usually does — give us a chance to win a baseball game.”
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