3 Mets decisions that cost them a chance to upset the Dodgers in the NLCS

3. Sean Manaea should have been pulled earlier in Game 6.

If you watched Sean Manaea pitch, it was clear from the start of Game 6 that he did not have any command on his fastball. He threw 34 pitches in the 1st inning and gave up two runs and 64 overall before he got pulled in the 3rd inning without recording an out.

It was also clear towards the end of his start in Game 2. He threw five magnificent innings before issuing back-to-back walks to lead off the 6th before being pulled a batter later six days earlier.

In the 3rd inning of Game 6, Manaea gave up a single to Teoscar Hernandez with a 107.1 mph exit velocity, a homer to NLCS MVP Tommy Edman that registered 104.1 mph off the bat, and issued a five-pitch walk to Max Muncy before finally being pulled. Muncy scored on a home run by Will Smith, and before the Mets had a chance to come back, it was 6-1 Dodgers and they never looked back.

Had Manaea been pulled earlier in Game 6, it would have given the Mets a better chance to come back and win with the season on the line because a rested bullpen from the travel day would have been ready in full force.

Manaea had never pitched close to 200 combined innings between regular and postseason play in his career until this year. He was eventually going to run out of steam, and they should have had a backup plan.