Vintage Sean Manaea no where to be found in second straight Mets start

Where is last season’s Sean Manaea?

The Mets left-hander has hardly resembled the force that carried this starting rotation for much of last year, and Sunday he wilted in a second straight start to help bury the team.

“I feel like I am doing everything right,” Manaea said after the Mets lost 7-6 to the Brewers on Sunday. “I have just got to continue this path, and I think I am heading in the right direction.”

Manaea, who missed the first half of the season rehabbing an oblique strain, saw his ERA jump to 4.33 in six appearances after allowing four earned runs on six hits and two walks over four innings.

He was gifted a 5-0 lead before the Brewers scored three runs against him in the fourth and he was charged for another in the fifth on William Contreras’ game-tying homer against Reed Garrett.

Manaea surrendered five runs in the sixth inning in his start against Cleveland last week.

“[Manaea] is having a hard time, especially the second or third time through the order,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “[The Brewers] made him work.”

Brandon Nimmo walked twice and contributed a sacrifice bunt in an 0-for-2 performance. Nimmo owns a .437 OPS in August — he and Francisco Lindor are the most notable slumping members of the lineup.

“It’s rough right now, but I can’t say it’s new,” Nimmo said. “It happens every year and it’s part of baseball. … I am trying to be productive, even while things aren’t as good, and I feel I still have brought some things to the table, which I have been proud of.”

Mendoza indicated it hasn’t been decided whether Frankie Montas’ next appearance will occur in a normal starting role or if he will again pitch behind an opener.

Montas pitched three innings behind Garrett on Saturday and was removed after allowing three runs (two of which were unearned) and throwing 72 pitches.

Monday’s off-day will give the Mets flexibility in aligning their rotation for the next home stand, and it’s possible the struggling Montas won’t be needed again until Saturday against the Mariners.

Juan Soto went 2-for-4 and extended his on-base streak to eight games. He’s also driven in at least one run in four straight games.