Mets' Kodai Senga: Takes step back in Triple-A start
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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.
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Mets' Kodai Senga: Slated for another Triple-A start
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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: Could lose rotation spot
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Senga may be removed from the rotation as the Mets try to hang onto a playoff spot in September, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports. "We're going to have some discussion about what's next for him," manager Carlos Mendoza said after Sunday's loss to the Marlins, during which Senga coughed up five runs in 4.2 innings.
The 32-year-old right-hander hasn't been able to regain his form since returning from a hamstring injury just before the All-Star break, and things were particularly grim for Senga in August as he stumbled to a 6.18 ERA, 1.63 WHIP and 27:14 K:BB over six starts and 27.2 innings. The Mets should get Tylor Megill (elbow) back from the 60-day injured list as soon as Sunday and are trying to keep a starting spot available for rookie Jonah Tong, so they have the depth to bump Senga from the rotation until he shows signs of a turnaround. New York currently sits six games back of Philadelphia in the NL East, and four games ahead of Cincinnati for the final wild-card spot in the Senior Circuit.
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Mets' Kodai Senga: Falls short of quality start
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Senga didn't factor into the decision Thursday against Atlanta, allowing two runs on five hits and one walk across 5.2 innings. He struck out seven.
Senga nearly submitted his first quality start in seven appearances, but he was pulled at 93 pitches with two outs in the sixth frame. Still, it was a step in the right direction for the 32-year-old, as he had allowed at least three runs in each of his last four starts and walked 14 batters during that span. His seven Ks also tied a season high. Through 19 appearances, Senga has a 2.35 ERA and a 95:48 K:BB across 99.2 innings. He's on track to face the Nationals in his next start.
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Mets' Kodai Senga: Control issues persist in loss
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Senga (7-4) took the loss Friday against the Brewers, allowing three runs (one earned) on two hits and three walks in 4.1 innings. He struck out two.
Senga cruised through four scoreless innings to begin his outing but ran himself into a bases-loaded jam during the fifth, though reliever Brooks Raley was able to help limit the damage after Senga was lifted. The two punchouts were the fewest of the season for Senga, who has now also lent at least three free passes in each of his last four outings. The 32-year-old right-hander still has a strong 2.30 ERA for the campaign, but his 88:47 K:BB through 94 frames is somewhat of a concern. He'll try to sharpen his control at home against Atlanta in his next scheduled appearance.
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Mets' Kodai Senga: Struggles with control again
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Senga allowed four runs on five hits and three walks while striking out four batters over four innings in a no-decision against San Francisco on Saturday.
Senga threw only 37 of 71 pitches for strikes and walked multiple batters for the fourth straight start. Over that span, he's issued 10 free passes across 16 innings, which is a big reason why he has completed five frames only once during the stretch. Overall, Senga's 4.42 BB/9 on the campaign ranks in the bottom 10 in the majors among hurlers who have tossed at least 50 innings, which makes it all the more remarkable that he still holds a fantastic 2.31 ERA. However, that ERA has shot up of late -- it was 1.39 through his first 14 starts, but Senga has allowed 11 earned runs across 12 innings over his past three appearances.
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Mets' Kodai Senga: Walks five Sunday
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Senga allowed three runs on four hits and five walks while striking out three over five innings in a no-decision versus the Giants on Sunday.
Senga had trouble finding the strike zone, throwing just 55 of 92 pitches for strikes. He has now allowed seven runs with a 12:10 K:BB over 12 innings across three starts since returning from a month-long absence due to a hamstring injury. Overall, his 2.00 ERA remains elite, but it's backed by a 1.21 WHIP and 82:41 K:BB through 85.2 innings over 16 starts, which suggest he's had more than his fair share of good luck. Senga is tentatively projected to make his next start at home in a rematch with the Giants.
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Mets' Kodai Senga: Chased early in no-decision
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Senga conceded four runs on four hits and three walks over three innings in a no-decision Monday against the Angels. He struck out five.
The Japanese right-hander struggled mightily in this 73-pitch outing, as he managed to notch only 39 strikes while his fastball averaged 93.6 mph (down from his season mark of 94.6). After allowing a solo homer to Logan O'Hoppe in the second inning, Senga surrendered three additional runs on three hits and two walks in the third, finishing his night. This performance raised the 32-year-old's ERA from 1.39 to 1.79 across 80.2 total innings. Assuming the velocity drop was not indicative of an underlying injury, Senga is currently slated to make his next start at San Francisco this weekend.
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Mets' Kodai Senga: Sharp in return
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Senga took a no-decision after throwing four innings, allowing no runs on four hits and two walks while striking out four, during Friday's 8-3 win over the Royals.
Senga made his first big-league start since June 12, and since he made only one rehab start, he threw only four innings and 67 pitches. Regardless, the 32-year-old looked sharp in his return, notching his seventh shutout appearance in 14 starts this season, and he has still yet to allow more than three runs in a game. The right-hander has been one of the best pitchers in the game when he's been healthy, sporting a 1.39 ERA in 77.2 innings pitched.
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Mets' Kodai Senga: Reinstated for Friday's start
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The Mets activated Senga (hamstring) from the 15-day injured list to start Friday's game in Kansas City.
The right-hander has been sidelined nearly a month due to a right hamstring strain, but he's ready to rejoin New York's rotation after giving up three earned runs over 3.2 frames in his lone rehab outing. Senga threw 68 pitches in that appearance, so he's likely to face some light workload limitations in his first start back with the Mets. He'd been dominant in 2025 prior to the injury with a 1.47 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 70:31 K:BB across 73.2 innings.
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Mets' Kodai Senga: Struggles in rehab start
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Senga (hamstring) gave up four runs (three earned) on six hits and two walks while striking out four over 3.2 innings Saturday in his rehab start with Double-A Binghamton.
Senga was expected to throw around 60 pitches Saturday before potentially returning from the 15-day injured list next weekend. He ended up covering 68 pitches Saturday, although the results weren't great. The Mets will likely wait and see how Senga bounces back from the rehab start before deciding whether he'll require another start on the farm or if he's ready to rejoin the big-league rotation.
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Mets' Kodai Senga: Could return from IL next week
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Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said that Senga (hamstring) will aim to throw around 60 pitches in his rehab start Saturday for Double-A Binghamton, Jorge Castillo of ESPN.com reports.
If all goes well, Senga could return from the 15-day injured list and rejoin the big-league rotation next weekend in Kansas City. He would seemingly be in line to take the hill July 11 or July 12 on five or six days' rest, as normal rest would have the right-hander taking the mound July 10 in Baltimore. Senga had a 2.15 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 28:12 K:BB in 29.1 innings over the five starts prior to straining his right hamstring June 12.
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Mets' Kodai Senga: Could return before All-Star break
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Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Thursday that Senga (hamstring) will begin a rehab assignment either Saturday or Sunday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Senga could need just one rehab start before coming off the 15-day injured list and joining the Mets rotation. The club is hopeful that Sean Manaea (elbow/oblique) can make his season debut July 13, which likely sets Senga to rejoin the rotation July 12 in Kansas City if all goes well in his rehab outing. Senga has been sidelined since mid-June with a right hamstring strain.
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Mets' Kodai Senga: Throws live batting practice
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Senga (hamstring) threw an up-and-down live batting practice session Sunday, Andrew Tredinnick of The Bergen Record reports.
This marked Senga's first time facing hitters since he suffered a Grade 1 right hamstring strain nearly three weeks ago. His next step is to throw a bullpen session and go through pitchers' fielding practice Wednesday. If he gets through that without any hiccups, he could be cleared to begin a rehab assignment. The Mets don't expect Senga back until early on in the second half.
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Mets' Kodai Senga: Diagnosed with Grade 1 strain
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Senga was diagnosed Friday with a Grade 1 hamstring strain, Andrew Tredinnick of The Bergen Record reports.
Senga, who was placed on the injured list earlier Friday, will use the next two weeks to rest before being re-evaluated, at which point the Mets may begin to map out the next steps of his recovery. In the meantime, Paul Blackburn is expected to fill the gap in New York's starting rotation. Per Tim Britton of the Athletic, Senga isn't expected back until the second half of July, after the All-Star break.
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Mets' Kodai Senga: Bound for injured list
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Manager Carlos Mendoza said Thursday that Senga was diagnosed with a right hamstring strain and will need to spend time on the injured list, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Senga's hamstring forced him to make an early exit from his start against Washington on Thursday after tossing 5.2 shutout innings. The Mets won't know more about the severity of his injury until he undergoes an MRI on Friday, but the team has already deemed his injury significant enough to warrant a stint on the IL. Paul Blackburn will likely slide into the rotation until Frankie Montas (lat) and Sean Manaea (oblique) are ready to come off the injured list.
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Mets' Kodai Senga: Exits with apparent leg injury
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Senga was removed from Thursday's start against the Nationals in the sixth inning with an apparent right leg injury, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Senga was covering first base and had to leap to grab a high throw from first baseman Pete Alonso. When he landed, he immediately grabbed at the back of his right leg and went down in a heap. Senga was able to walk off the field under his own power, but it looked to be a potentially significant leg injury. The Mets should have more on his status shortly. Senga had struck out five over 5.2 scoreless frames before exiting.
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Mets' Kodai Senga: Fans six in quality start
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Senga didn't factor into the decision against the Rockies on Friday, allowing one run on five hits and two walks while striking out six across six innings.
It was another dominant start for Senga, who generated 22 whiffs on 109 pitches (67 strikes). He faced the minimum in three of the first four innings, and his only blemish was a Mickey Moniak solo homer in the third. This was Senga's sixth quality start of the season, and his 1.59 ERA (across 68 innings) is best in the National League among qualified starters. He's in line to make his next start against the Nationals at home next week.
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Mets' Kodai Senga: Saddled with third loss
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Senga (4-3) took the loss in Monday's game at Boston. He conceded three runs on five hits and three walks over six innings with five strikeouts.
With this 100-pitch effort, Senga collected his fourth quality start of the season. The New York right-hander yielded a season-worst three runs in this start, raising his ERA from 1.02 to 1.43. Through 50.1 innings, Senga has pitched to a fantastic 2.85 FIP, 1.19 WHIP and 47:22 K:BB. The 32-year-old is currently scheduled to make his next start against the vaunted Dodgers at home this weekend.
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Mets' Kodai Senga: Blanks Arizona for fourth win
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Senga (4-2) earned the win Wednesday over the Diamondbacks, allowing two hits and six walks over six scoreless innings. He struck out four.
Senga's command was shaky early, as he issued five walks in the first three innings. He'd manage to keep the Diamondbacks off the board, however, before settling in and retiring 11 of the 12 batters he faced over his final three frames. Senga's now held opponents scoreless in four of his seven starts this year. His ERA is down to a minuscule 1.16 with a 1.16 WHIP and 35:17 K:BB across 38.2 innings. Senga will look to keep his stellar run going in his next outing, currently slated for next week at home against the Pirates.
