The Mets finally had a Sean Manaea sighting, but otherwise Sunday served as a frustrating final game for them before the All-Star break.

Left-hander Sean Manaea made his return to Citi Field on Friday night against the Cincinnati Reds, striking out the side in the first inning and walking off the mound as the ballpark speakers played “The Boys are Back in Town.” Juan Soto hit a home run off of left-hander Nick Lodolo in the bottom of the inning, and a packed crowd roared.

The default setting is to treat the weekend after the break as its own three-day scoring period, but another common approach is to combine it with the first full week after the All-Star break for a 10-day scoring period.

Sean Manaea strikes out TJ Friedl, Matt McLain and Elly De La Cruz in order to retire the side in the top of the 1st during his first start of the season

Kodai Senga is expected to return from the injured list on Friday to face the Royals, according to manager Carlos Mendoza, with Sean Manaea two days behind him.

Sean Manaea, who entered Sunday's game in relief, struck out seven Royals, including five straight at one point.

Sean Manaea was a big signing for the Mets. After his success in 2024, is he ready to be an ace in the Big Apple? Three years and $75 million was enough to keep Manaea as a Met after he opted out ...

Friday marked the official start of the second half of the season, which is more of a symbolic day than anything. The actual halfway point of the schedule passed weeks ago. Friday is simply the time when players return from the All-Star break.