Acce s the Mets beat like never before Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mike Puma about the inside buzz on the Mets. Jonah Tongs phone ringing meant Brandon Sproats did not. The , a phenom rocketing through their system who made just Paul Stastny Jersey two starts with Triple-A Syracuse, while leaving Sproat (at least for now) in Syracuse, with whom he has pitched in 25 games. The decision was partly a result of Tong authoring arguably the best season in all of minor league baseball and partly a result of simple scheduling. The Mets wanted to insert a sixth starter Friday against the Marlins, which would push David Peterson whose ERA is 6.31 on four days of rest and 2.25 when given the extra day back to Saturday and Kodai Senga (who flunked his lone four-days-rest test Monday) back to Sunday. Tong most recently pitched Saturday and is set up to pitch on his usual rest Friday. Explore More Sproat has pitched twice consecutively on four days of rest as the Mets test the righty in other scenarios, and his pitching Friday would make it three times in a row, which the club did not want him to do. So Sproat who began this season as the top Mets pitching prospect but has been bypa sed by Nolan McLean and Tong for a debut remains in Syracuse, where a rough first half cost him but a strong second half has placed him back on the radar. Through his first 15 starts, Sproat owned a 5.95 ERA with slipping velocity and a changeup he could not find. The problems appear to have been solved by a new mindset Sproat saying he decided to start throwing each pitch with maximum effort and the hard-throwing righty has put together a 2.77 ERA with 61 strikeouts in his past 52 innings. Brandon Sproat throws a pitch during the Mets spring training game against the Nationals on Feb. 28, 2025. Corey Sipkin for New York Post Brandons done a tremendous job, I think, president of baseball operations David Stearns said Tuesday before the Mets beat the Phillies. Hes probably had as good a second half a season as any pitcher in minor league baseball. Hes made some real adjustments. Hes pitched great. He pitched poorly as a bulk starter Monday, used behind an opener for the first time all season. Carlos Mendoza said the Mets were not considering Sproat out of the bullpen but trying to give Sproat the experience of pitching behind an opener an experience many of their minor league starters have received this season. CHECK OUT THE AND I think this has got nothing to do with Sproat, the manager said of the decision to bring up Tong. I think its just more how dominant Jonah has been. Sean Manaea took a step in the right direction but a small one. The lefty struck out eight and was charged with two runs, but lasted just 4 / innings because of a pitch count (90) that kept climbing and at-bats that did not end quickly enough. A dejected Sean Manaea walks to the dugout after getting taken out in the fifth inning of the Mets 6-5 win over the Phillies on Aug. 26, 2025. Robert Sabo / New York Post Manaea has made nine starts after spending the first half of the season on the injured list and hasnt lasted more than 5 / innings in any of them. I feel like Ive been in good counts, just not putting guys away, Manaea said after he was strong for four frames before running into trouble in the fifth, when Gregory Soto entered and allowed two inherited runners to score. I dont know if its a mixing i sue, fastball just not getting to the top of the zone, a lot of foul balls. I dont really know what the fix is. See Also New York Mets Stearns on trade-deadline addition Ryan Helsley, who pitched a scorele s inning Monday but had allowed 12 runs (eight earned) in his first 7 / innings with his new club: Theres an adjustment period coming to a new team or asking him to take on a new role. Thats certainly been well documented. When you dont have results immediately, its natural to pre s a little bit. What were trying to do is help him exhale a little bit, take a deep breath. The stuff is still there. Hes been good in this league for a long time. Helsley Tuesday before the Mets prevailed 6-5. Tylor Megill is expected to make a fourth rehab start Wednesday with Syracuse. The righty, recovering from an elbow sprain, most recently threw 65 pitches over five innings Friday. The Mets will open the next season at Citi Field on March 26, against the Pirates. One schedule highlight: A three-game series in The Bronx that begins Sept. 11 . Additional reporting by Peter Botte Sean Walker Jersey