How the Mets can handle the return of their injured arms

With Sean Manaea, Frankie Montas, and Paul Blackburn nearing returns, the Mets face tough decisions on their starting staff.

May 16, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Mets pitcher Tylor Megill (38) pitches against the New York Yankees during the first inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images | John Jones-Imagn Images

One of the New York Mets' biggest preseason concerns has turned into a surprising strength: the starting pitching has been a revelation, even with multiple injuries.

With all five current starters (Senga, Peterson, Holmes, Canning, Megill) maintaining an ERA under 4.00, the Mets have not only gotten the most out of their rotation, but have exceeded expectations.

Yet those injuries are where sorting out the rotation becomes tricky. With Sean Manaea, Frankie Montas, and Paul Blackburn all progressing in their recoveries, the question of how to handle the rotation looms. Changes may not come before the end of May, but they appear inevitable.

Read More: How Paul Blackburn can fit into Mets’ rotation in the near future

Manaea is a lock to rejoin the rotation once he recovers from his right oblique strain. The left-hander was integral to the Mets' 2024 success, posting career-bests in innings pitched (181.2) and ERA (3.47); he was rewarded with a new three-year, $75 million contract last December.

Offseason acquisition Frankie Montas is also on his way back, as he threw a live bullpen session on Friday in Brooklyn. The 32-year-old starter suffered a high-grade lat strain in mid-February during a bullpen session.

Carlos Mendoza says that Frankie Montas is scheduled to throw a live BP today in Brooklyn.

Mendoza says he'll throw a couple more live BPs before the Mets send him on a rehab assignment. pic.twitter.com/0Z8ynvStRw

— SNY (@SNYtv) May 16, 2025

With these returns, the Mets will have options. One possibility could be moving permanently to a six-man rotation, but what that rotation will look like is another question entirely. They could option someone to Triple-A Syracuse, but so far, no starting pitcher's performance suggests a clear candidate for outright replacement in the current rotation.

Could Clay Holmes go back to a bullpen role? While the first-year starter has been solid with a 3.14 ERA in nine starts this season, the idea of having Holmes return to being a bullpen arm is not far-fetched with the nearing returns of Blackburn, Montas, and Manaea.

Due to Holmes' success as a starter, though, the more likely route is to put Blackburn in the bullpen as a long reliever, although he's more than capable of making spot starts. Either Holmes or Blackburn would add depth to a bullpen to an injury-riddled bullpen that has seen a Ryne Stanek injury scare, and season-ending injuries to A.J. Minter and Danny Young this month.

Injuries are inevitable and can happen at any time, but fortunately for the Mets, they have depth. And that depth has delivered.

During Spring Training, president of baseball operations David Stearns expressed confidence despite the injuries. "I do think we're built to withstand this," stated Stearns.

David Stearns seems very confident in where his pitching rotation currently stands even with the Mets injuries. #Mets #MetsNews pic.twitter.com/G3akupL9r7

— MetCast (@MetCastPod) March 6, 2025

Although the Mets were rumored to be interested in acquiring starting pitchers like Dylan Cease or Sandy Alcantara, they have chosen to work with what they have, and that decision has paid off so far.

While it's clear Manaea and Montas will both return to the rotation at some point in 2025, the questions remain: when, and how will the rotation work around their comebacks?