New York Mets’ Playoff Hopes Rest on Sean Manaea
As the 2025 regular season edges towards closure, the New York Mets are pinning their postseason aspirations on the left arm of Sean Manaea. The succeeding Sunday afternoon game represents a crucial juncture for the Mets, potentially marking the end of the season or a thrilling continuation. Victory is paramount for the team in this final regular season game if they harbor any dreams of entering the playoffs in the coming week. With a challenging encounter against the Miami Marlins looming, a drastic squad alteration was announced.
In an unexpected turn, the team revealed that the starting pitcher for the Sunday game wouldn’t be All-Star David Peterson. Instead, fellow left-handed Sean Manaea is set to lead from the mound. The revelation stirred a surprise among many Mets’ supporters, particularly given Manaea’s current form. The 33-year-old has had a difficult season, his performance shaky to the point of being relegated to the bullpen recently.
Despite the risks, the leadership at the Mets opted for a cautious approach, bringing in Manaea while being ready to make bold amendments as required. The decision reflects a strategic calculation as Mets profess a preference for Manaea’s high-strikeout rate and ability to induce swings and misses, potential assets against Miami’s lineup that is laser-focused on making contact.
Statistically, Manaea outperforms Peterson in strikeout rate (28.1 percent) and the rate of inducing swings and misses (26.4 percent). In contrast, Peterson’s corresponding numbers stand slightly lower at 20.7 percent and 24 percent, respectively. However, neither Manaea nor Peterson have posted impressive stats since the season’s midpoint, cocooning the team’s decision in a cloud of uncertainty.
One could argue that Peterson would be a logical choice given that he would open the game with four days’ rest. Plus, unlike Manaea, Peterson has stayed clear of bullpen duties throughout the year. The preference for Manaea, however, stems from the Mets’ vulnerability in the field, a weakness that could be exploited should Peterson’s pitches be put in play.
In high-stakes games, the swing-and-miss pitcher that Manaea is, transforms into an invaluable asset. Given the Marlins’ contact rate of 79.2 percent in the latter half of the season — the fourth-highest in MLB — this strategic choice becomes more evident. Despite relegating David Peterson to a secondary role, he isn’t brushed aside entirely.
The team management expects Peterson’s participation in the Sunday match, though the nature and timing of his role hinge on the progress of the game situation. This caveat, however, belies an even more daunting reality.
Even if the stars align and the Mets secure a victory on Sunday, the ticket to the playoffs isn’t assured yet. A secondary dependency exists — the Cincinnati Reds must face defeat in their match against the Milwaukee Brewers. Lack of a tiebreaker between the Mets and Reds introduces this additional complexity.