NL WILD CARD SERIES: METS VS BREWERS

October 1, 2024

Sean Manaea

American Family Field

New York Mets

Pregame Press Conference

Q. Sean, what can you take from your previous playoff experiences that you can apply to this one?

SEAN MANAEA: It's just another game at the end of the day. It's great implications, but at the same time, it's just another game. Just got to treat it like that and not try to make it too much bigger than it is.

Yeah, just feel comfortable out there and feel good.

Q. Similarly, what can you take out of that last start against this team, and what did you learn about them that you need to take into this next start to be successful?

SEAN MANAEA: They're a very good ball club. They can do damage when they need to. They have got some really fast guys that cause havoc on the base pads.

They're just overall a really good club. I made a few mistakes last game, but I'm feeling from that and just improve from there.

Q. How have you guys kind of addressed just the run game that the Brewers present as a pitching staff?

SEAN MANAEA: They're very aggressive. They got a lot of really fast guys, and then when they don't, the guys in the middle part of the lineup can do a lot of damage. So it's kind of a balance of keeping an eye on them, but also worrying about the guy at the plate.

They really just got to mix things up and just keep them off balance.

Q. Tomorrow's potentially your last start of the season. How do you evaluate your body of work this year?

SEAN MANAEA: It's been good. Really proud of the work I've been able to do. Stayed healthy for the whole season, and we made it this far, so I'm just really excited to pitch tomorrow. Hopefully it's not my last.

Q. With you likely headed for free agency after this season, what sort of interest do you have in staying with the Mets beyond this season?

SEAN MANAEA: That is a bridge we will cross when we get there.

Q. How many haircuts have you had since Spring Training? And is there any strategy behind them?

SEAN MANAEA: No, never any -- actually, no, never any strategy. I've had two major transformations. As you guys are well aware, I had long hair. Then I had a haircut, which I didn't like, so I shaved it. Then I had a bunch of haircuts in between them.

I'd say two major haircuts and a couple of -- I don't know, upkeep cuts.

Q. There's been a lot over the course of the season about the transformation you've made from where you were in April to where you are now. How does that kind of position yourself to have success here in the postseason, do you feel?

SEAN MANAEA: In terms of what?

Q. Just like obviously the arm slide and how you've kind of crafted yourself this year to become a more complete pitcher.

SEAN MANAEA: At the end of the day, if I can have confidence out there and throwing strikes with everything, all my pitches, I feel like good things can happen. Those kind of mechanical changes have helped me do that.

Really it's just simplifying everything to go out there and pitch to the best of my ability. I think that's just something I've been able to do.

Q. Talked about just trying to handle tomorrow as another day, another game. Is that something you've learned over time, or in past playoff performances did you think this is the playoffs, I need to throw harder or whatever?

SEAN MANAEA: It is the playoffs. There's obviously a lot of energy and buzz going around. I'm trying to match that excitement and not try to fight it. But at the end of the day, all the stuff I've been able to do is kind of prepare myself for moments like these.

It's pitching. I've faced these guys a few times over my career and my last start was against them. They know what I've got, I know what they've got, so it's just a matter of going out there and battling and competing and nothing more than that.