Mets' Kodai Senga: Takes step back in Triple-A start
Rotowire
Senga allowed four runs on six hits and two walks while striking out four across 3.2 innings in a start with Triple-A Syracuse on Thursday.
Senga fanned eight over six innings of one-run ball in his first outing after being demoted to Syracuse, so Thursday's performance was a clear step backward. With Syracuse's season ending Sunday, the plan is for Senga to throw either a simulated game or live batting practice session next, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports. It's looking unlikely at this point that Senga will be able to show enough to convince the Mets he should be included on their postseason roster, should they qualify.
Mets' Kodai Senga: Slated for another Triple-A start
Rotowire
Senga is expected to make another start at Triple-A Syracuse during the upcoming week, Will Sammon and Tim Britton of The Athletic report.
After accepting a demotion to the minors Sept. 5 following a string of poor outings, Senga shined in his first start with Syracuse this past Friday, striking out eight batters over six innings while allowing one earned run on three hits and no walks. Unless the Mets place a player on a reserve list and recall Senga in a corresponding move, however, the right-hander won't be eligible to join the big club until Sept. 20. With that in mind, he'll stick around at Triple-A and will presumably stay on his typical five days' rest schedule to make his next start Thursday. If all goes well in that outing, Senga will likely rejoin the Mets for the final week of the regular season, but his exact role remains in flux. The Mets are already planning on using Sean Manaea in a piggyback role behind starter Clay Holmes on Tuesday against the Padres as the team transitions from a six-man rotation to a five-man setup during the upcoming week, and Senga could be deployed in a similar capacity as Manaea upon his return to the big club. Rookie Jonah Tong has struggled with both his command and control in his last two starts and may benefit from being used in a tandem when Senga is recalled, if Senga doesn't replace Tong in the rotation outright.
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Mets' Kodai Senga: Makes case to return to majors
Rotowire
Senga struck out eight batters and allowed one earned run on three hits and no walks over six innings in a start for Triple-A Syracuse on Friday.
The 32-year-old right-hander signed off on being optioned to the minors last week to try and get right after stumbling to a 6.56 ERA, 1.71 WHIP and 35:22 over his last eight starts and 35.2 innings for the Mets. Senga's first turn in the Syracuse rotation provided a great deal of hope that he might still be able to boost New York's fading playoff hopes, as he fired 52 of 74 pitches for strikes in an efficient performance. Per Jared Greenspan of MLB.com, the Mets' original plan was to have Senga make two starts at Triple-A to get used to some mechanical tweaks before a return to the majors was considered, but with Jonah Tong having been pummeled by the Rangers on Friday and the Mets' lead over the Giants for the final wild-card spot in the National League having slipped to half a game, the organization may not be able to afford that kind of patience. Absent the Mets moving a player to the injured list to create a spot on the 28-man active roster for him, however, Senga isn't eligible to return to the Mets until Sept. 20.
The Mets optioned Senga to Triple-A Syracuse on Friday.
Senga has struggled since the All-Star break, posting a 0-3 record, a 6.56 ERA and a 35:22 K:BB across eight starts spanning 35.2 innings. Amid Senga's struggles, manager Carlos Mendoza hinted Sunday that the Mets could look elsewhere for starts as they push for a playoff spot. Not only will Senga lose his spot in the rotation, but he's also agreed to a demotion as he tries to regain his form. Wander Suero will join the big-league club in a corresponding move. Per Andy Martino of SNY.tv, the Mets are hoping to recall Senga after a couple starts with Syracuse, though that will depend on how he fares.
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