One of the most important parts of last year's success hasn't been the same.
It didn’t take Sean Manaea long to rack up 8 strikeouts against the Washington Nationals on Thursday. Essentially on cruise control in his latest start for the New York Mets, trouble brewed thanks in part to hit by pitches, wild pitches, and some timely hitting by the Nationals.
Manaea exited early, after 4.2 innings, on a season-high 91 pitches. He was smooth to start until hitting an all-too-familiar wall mid-game for the Mets.