NY Mets News: Sean Manaea return update, Jesse Winker delay, RISP struggles

The New York Mets embarked on a new series against the Chicago White Sox today, fresh off a hard-fought series victory against the reigning champions. The team has shown general efficiency on the field, but a nagging issue has been the impact of injuries on key players.

Among them, a vital piece within the pitching rotation is on the road to recovery, and his potential impact on the team's pitching staff would be enormous in the ongoing fight for the division lead. Meanwhile, another key offensive piece remains behind schedule in his recovery, which will necessitate more creative roster management for the time being.

Reinforcements are coming in big way for the starting rotation

The Mets' pitching staff, already boasting the best ERA in baseball, is set to receive a significant boost with the imminent return of left-handed starter Sean Manaea. According to Mets manager Carlos Mendoza, Manaea "is officially set to face hitters for the first time since straining his right oblique during spring training." This is a crucial step in his rehabilitation, and it signals that his return to the major league mound is drawing closer.

Manaea was a revelation for the Mets staff last season after modifying his arm angle, a change that allowed him to significantly improve his performance. He limited opposing hitters to a paltry .188 batting average, coupled with an unbeatable WHIP of 0.94. His strikeout rate improved, and his command became sharper, making him a formidable force in the rotation. His return would bring an elite figure to an already strong unit, contributing to even greater stability and consistency within the team. This could allow for a seamless transition for any pitchers who have shown inconsistency, such as Tylor Megill, or even pave the way for incorporating a more flexible six-man rotation, preserving arms for the long haul of the season.

Jesse Winker is way behind schedule in his recovery

In contrast to the promising news surrounding Manaea, the recovery of designated hitter Jesse Winker continues to be a source of concern for the Mets. Winker sustained a right oblique strain approximately three weeks ago, with an initial recovery timetable projected at three to six weeks.

However, recent updates from Carlos Mendoza paint a less optimistic picture. Mendoza reported that Winker is still shut down from swinging, stating that the Mets' left-handed hitter at DH is "a ways away before he starts grabbing a bat." This suggests that the timeframe for his return could extend beyond the initial prediction, leaving the Mets to rely on internal options to cover the designated hitter position. Players like Jeff McNeil and Brett Baty will likely continue to see increased opportunities to fill this void, highlighting the team's need for creative solutions to maintain offensive production in Winker's absence.

Mets keep winning despite continued RISP struggles

The Mets kicked off their series against the Chicago White Sox with a victory, once again demonstrating their ability to secure wins by heavily relying on their stellar pitching. However, the game served as another stark reminder of the team's season-long inconsistency on the offensive side, particularly their persistent troubles hitting with runners in scoring position (RISP). The team left eight runners in scoring position before finally scoring their first run of the game in the eighth inning – a familiar pattern that has plagued them throughout the season.

Adrian Houser delivered a fantastic revenge game against his former team, pitching six innings of no-run ball, allowing only three hits, and striking out six White Sox batters. The Mets need to take advantage of weaker pitchers and less competitive teams, but instead, they continue to lean heavily on their pitching, a strategy that could backfire if and when their rotation experiences any regression.

The team is currently averaging 3.80 runners in scoring position left per game, which ranks as the seventh worst in the league, and they boast a collective batting average of just .245 in this situation. While we can certainly enjoy these hard-fought victories, this offense desperately needs to step up and provide more consistent support for a pitching rotation that has surprisingly been the best in the league in terms of ERA since the start of the season.