PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) \u2014 New York Mets left-hander Sean Manaea will open the season working out of the bullpen rather than having a spot in the starting rotation.<\/p>\n
Manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters Saturday that Manaea would have a \u201cpiggyback\u201d role in which he immediately follows a starter the first couple of times the team goes through its rotation.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have six guys throwing the ball really well,\u201d Mendoza said. \u201cWe were pretty honest with all of them at the beginning of camp. If everyone was healthy, we were going to have to make some tough decisions, and one of them was going to be pitching in that type of role.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Mets plan to open the season with a starting rotation of Freddy Peralta,<\/a> David Peterson, Nolan McLean, Clay Holmes and Koda Senga. The Mets had a surplus of candidates after acquiring Peralta<\/a> from the Milwaukee Brewers in January.<\/p>\n The 34-year-old Manaea has started in 210 of his 243 career regular-season appearances. He signed a $75 million, 3-year contract<\/a> after going 12-6 with a 3.47 ERA and finishing 11th in the NL Cy Young Award balloting in 2024, but he followed that up by going 2-4 with a 5.64 ERA last season.<\/p>\n Mendoza noted the Mets probably wouldn\u2019t need a sixth starter the first couple of times through their schedule because they have more off days than usual.<\/p>\n \u201cWe don\u2019t feel like we need a sixth starter yet,\u201d Mendoza said. \u201cHe\u2019s going to make starts for us.\u201d<\/p>\n ___<\/p>\n