Mets Temporarily Move Sean Manaea to Bullpen Amid Losing Streak

The New York Mets are making another major adjustment to their pitching strategy. Veteran left-hander Sean Manaea shifts into a hybrid role as the club tries to steady a rotation that’s been all over the place.

This move comes as the Mets juggle rookie workloads, nagging injuries, and a critical stretch of games late in the 2025 season. It’s a lot to manage, honestly.

Mets Rotation Shake-Up

Lately, the Mets’ starting rotation has been anything but stable. With the promotions of highly-touted rookies Jonah Tong and Brandon Sproat, plus injuries to key arms, manager Carlos Mendoza has had to rework his rotation almost every turn.

The club tried a six-man rotation for a bit. With some off days ahead, though, they’re heading back to five regular starters.

Sean Manaea’s New Hybrid Role

Manaea signed a three-year, $75 million contract after helping lead New York to the National League Championship Series last year. In 2025, he’s dealt with both injuries and inconsistency.

He missed three months with oblique and elbow issues. Over 11 starts, he’s put up a 5.76 ERA.

But there’s a twist—he’s also posted some of the best strikeout (29.2%) and walk (4.6%) rates of his career. Those numbers hint at a possible turnaround if the team uses him differently.

For now, Manaea moves into a bullpen/long-relief hybrid spot. He was available for relief in Sunday’s finale against the Rangers and will piggyback with starter Clay Holmes in Tuesday’s opener against the Padres.

This setup helps manage Holmes’ workload. It might also let Manaea reset mentally and mechanically, away from the pressure of traditional starts.

Upcoming Rotation Plans

The Mets have already mapped out their Padres series:

• Tuesday: Clay Holmes starts, Sean Manaea set for relief.
• Wednesday: David Peterson gets the ball.
• Thursday: Rookie Jonah Tong starts.

Looking Toward the Nationals Series

If things go as planned, the Manaea-Holmes pairing could flip next time through when the Mets face the Nationals. In that case, Manaea would open, and Holmes would come out of the bullpen.

This approach keeps things flexible. The staff can adjust based on pitch counts, matchups, or just how the game feels in the moment.

Manaea’s 2025 Struggles and Bright Spots

His ERA looks rough, but there are hints of progress. Manaea’s ability to miss bats at a career-best rate is encouraging.

If he can iron out command issues in big moments, there’s upside here. His improved control—shown by the low walk rate—suggests he could thrive in a shorter, more focused role.

The team’s 3-7 record in his starts doesn’t help his case. Moving him into a flexible bullpen spot could help him rebuild without the weight of anchoring the rotation.

The Kodai Senga Factor

The Mets’ rotation might get a serious lift soon with Kodai Senga returning. He was optioned to Triple-A on September 5 but becomes eligible to return September 20.

His latest rehab start went well. The Mets will want him back as they push for the playoffs.

Impact on the Stretch Run

If Senga comes back strong, that could take some pressure off young arms like Tong and Sproat—and veterans like Manaea. Mendoza would have more options to build a playoff-ready staff with fresher pitchers and better matchups.

Final Thoughts

The Mets decided to move Sean Manaea into a bullpen role. This isn’t just about one pitcher—it really shows how much they value flexibility and survival during a season full of rotation uncertainty.

Rookies are learning as they go. Key veterans are dealing with their own issues.

Kodai Senga might come back soon, which changes everything. Every move Mendoza makes now could shape the season’s final weeks.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Mets likely moving Sean Manaea to bullpen temporarily as losing streak continues