Manaea Struggles, Polanco Homers in Mets 3-1 Loss to Cardinals

The Mets started the day on a positive note by announcing they would retire Carlos Beltran’s No. 15 later this season. They ended the day with slightly more sour vibes, as Sean Manaea slogged through 2 2/3 ineffective innings against the Cardinals.

MANAEA LABORS IN SECOND SPRING START

The Mets’ lefty starter struggled from the get-go with a 28-pitch first inning, in which he gave up a triple and a two-run homer. He lasted 2 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on six hits, one walk, and four strikeouts. Manaea’s average fastball velocity ticked up to 89 mph, from 88.6 in his first start, after averaging 91.7 mph in his injury-plagued 2025 season.

JORGE POLANCO GOES DEEP

Jorge Polanco, hitting second in the order and playing first base, accounted for the Mets’ only run on the day with a solo homer in the first. It was his second dinger of the spring.

LUIS ROBERT. JR DEBUTS

Luis Robert Jr. played his first game in the orange and blue after ramping up from injury, batting cleanup. He recorded a hard-hit single to left field and played five innings in center field. The Mets had been ramping Robert up slowly this spring, hoping to streghten his body to get through the 2026 regular season.

TOBIAS MYERS SHINES AGAIN

Tobias Myers, acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers this offseason along with new ace Freddy Peralta, tossed three scoreless innings, giving up just one hit and one walk while striking out two. The righty now has nine strikeouts in 8 1/3 innings this spring, with just two walks and one earned run allowed.

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Jorge Polanco

Polanco homered again Thursday to record another extra-base hit this spring. The switch-hitter upped his OPS this spring to 1.300 with the long ball.

ON DECK

The Mets have a pair of split-squad night games on Friday. They’ll face the Washington Nationals at 6:05 pm EDT in West Palm Beach (not televised) , and the Miami Marlins at 6:10 pm EDT in Port St. Lucie (on WPIX). Mets pitchers have not yet been named.

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