The New York Mets suffered a tough loss to the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday as Sean Manaea struggled through another short outing, marking his sixth appearance and fifth start since returning from the injured list. Manaea lasted just over four innings, conceding four earned runs on six hits, including a home run, with two walks and five strikeouts, underscoring ongoing concerns about the Mets’ pitching depth during a vital stretch.
Manaea’s earned run average (ERA) currently stands at 4.33 across his six games, and he has yet to complete more than six innings in any start. Facing one of the most in-form teams in the league, the Brewers, Manaea’s struggles echoed those of Kodai Senga in the series opener earlier that weekend.
Parallels in Manaea and Senga’s Pitching Performances Over the Weekend
Both Manaea and Senga appeared composed in the initial innings, with Manaea allowing just one hit through three frames while the Mets built a 5-0 lead, poised to snap their six-game losing streak. However, the fourth inning unraveled for Manaea when he gave up a solo home run to William Contreras, followed by a single to Andrew Vaughn. Although Manaea struck out Blake Perkins and induced a ground ball from Andruw Monasterio, the Brewers quickly loaded the bases with a double by Danny Jansen and a walk to Brandon Lockridge.
Joey Ortiz, batting ninth for the Brewers, then drove in two runs with a single, narrowing the Mets’ lead to 5-3. Manaea was removed early in the fifth inning after Isaac Collins singled, unable to reach the desired length to preserve the bullpen.
The Mets eventually lost 6-5 on a walk-off home run by Collins in the ninth, resulting in a sweep in Milwaukee and a season-high seven consecutive defeats.
“It’s a lot, it’s frustrating. No one wants to be here, but at the end of the day, we’ve got to get through it.”
—Sean Manaea, Mets pitcher
Manaea expressed frustration over the team’s struggles but remained hopeful about his pitching progress.
Comparing Senga’s Fourth Straight Rough Start to Manaea’s Efforts
Mets starters other than David Peterson have struggled to pitch beyond six innings for nearly two months, and Manaea’s recent start mirrored Senga’s disappointing performance on Friday. Senga began strong, holding the Brewers scoreless through four innings, but his command faltered in the fifth.
With the Mets ahead 2-0, a fielding error by Senga allowed a Brewers runner on base, which was quickly followed by Brice Turang’s two-run home run off Senga’s signature “Ghost Fork” pitch, tying the game. The inning continued to slip away as Senga walked Joey Ortiz, allowed Sal Frelick to reach via catcher‘s interference, and walked William Contreras to load the bases. This forced an early exit for Senga, with Brooks Raley coming in relief and hitting Isaac Collins with a pitch, scoring the go-ahead run for Milwaukee.
Expectations and the Urgency for Improvement With Playoff Hopes at Stake
Both Sean Manaea and Kodai Senga entered the season expected to anchor the Mets’ starting rotation, but since returning from injuries, neither has delivered the level of performance anticipated. As the Mets enter a crucial homestand fighting to remain playoff contenders, the pressure rests heavily on these pitchers to stabilize their outings and help arrest the team’s downward slide.
With the Mets enduring a seven-game losing streak and continuing struggles from key starting pitchers, Manaea and Senga’s ability to regain form will be critical to the team’s prospects moving forward. Their next appearances will be closely watched as the Mets aim to reverse their fortunes before the postseason chase slips further out of reach.