Mets' Kodai Senga: Strikes out nine in first start
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Senga (0-1) took the loss against the Cardinals on Tuesday, allowing two runs on four hits and three walks while striking out nine across six innings.
Senga's stuff looked good, and his increased fastball velocity carried over from the spring. After sitting at 94.7 mph with his fastball last season, Senga's four-seamer averaged 97.4 mph against St. Louis on Tuesday. He also generated 17 whiffs on 92 total pitches, but walks remained an issue for the right-hander after he walked 4.4 batters per nine innings in 2025. The third inning proved to be the difference for Senga on Tuesday, as he gave up three straight hits to begin the frame, including a two-run double to Ivan Herrera. Senga retired 12 of the final 14 he faced. Senga's next start is scheduled for Sunday against the Giants in San Francisco.
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Mets' Kodai Senga: Solidifying rotation spot
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Senga gave up three hits and a walk over four scoreless innings in Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Astros. He struck out four.
Facing most of Houston's likely Opening Day lineup, including Jose Altuve, Yordan Alvarez and Carlos Correa, Senga fired 41 of 63 pitches for strikes in another impressive performance. The 33-year-old right-hander has posted a 1.86 ERA and 11:1 K:BB through 9.2 spring frames while showing much better velocity on his four-seam fastball, which averaged 94.7 mph in 2024. With more consistent heat to set up his elite splitter, Senga may be poised to regain something close to the form that saw him deliver a 2.98 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 202:77 K:BB over 166.1 innings during his MLB debut in 2023.
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Mets' Kodai Senga: Perfect in Friday's start
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Senga struck out five over three perfect innings in Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Marlins.
The right-hander made short work of a mix of Miami Opening Day starters and minor leaguers, with Senga sitting 96-97 mph with his four-seam fastball and popping 98.6 mph in the second inning to top prospect Joe Mack. Senga was so efficient, firing 28 of 38 pitches for strikes, that he needed to toss an additional 30 pitches in the bullpen after his start, per Anthony DiComo of MLB.com, in order to stay on track with his buildup. Through 5.2 spring frames, Senga sports a 3.18 ERA and 7:0 K:BB, and he seems locked into a rotation spot as long as he can stay healthy.
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Mets' Kodai Senga: Shows off velocity Saturday
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Senga gave up two runs on three hits over 2.2 innings during Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals. He struck out two without walking a batter.
The two runs came on solo shots, one by top prospect Joshua Baez, but Senga was consistently topping 97 mph with his fastball and hit 98.9 mph on a four-seamer to Alec Burleson. That's a huge improvement on 2025, when he averaged just 94.7 mph with the pitch. The 33-year-old right-hander credited some mechanical tweaks for the improved velocity, per Chuck King of MLB.com. "My body is different from where it was three years ago now, so I'm not really trying to get back to that," Senga said after Saturday's start. "It's a new me, and I'm trying to find new mechanics." If Senga's new-found life on his fastball holds into the regular season, he could return to the level of performance he showed in his first MLB season in 2023, when he posted a 2.98 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 202:77 K:BB in 166.1 regular-season innings.
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Mets' Kodai Senga: Reaches 97 mph in live BP
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Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Thursday that Senga hit 97 mph in a live batting practice session Thursday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Senga averaged 95.7 mph with his four-seamer in his rookie season and 94.7 mph with the pitch in 2025, so topping out at 97 mph already in camp seems like a good sign. The 33-year-old posted a 3.02 ERA in 22 outings for the Mets last season, but his strikeout rate dipped to 22.6 percent and he finished the year in the minors after a rough stretch. If healthy, Senga should open 2026 in the Mets' rotation.
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Mets' Kodai Senga: Looking good early in camp
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Senga appears to be further ahead of other Mets pitchers in camp and has already been hitting 92 mph with his fastball, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
Having Senga healthy and effective would be a huge boost to the rotation, but the 33-year-old right-hander has a lot to prove in 2026. He began last season with a brilliant 1.47 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 70:31 K:BB through his first 13 starts and 73.2 innings, but after landing on the IL due to a hamstring injury in mid-June, Senga couldn't put things back together. He posted a 5.90 ERA, 1.69 WHIP and 39:24 K:BB over his final nine outings and 39.2 innings after being activated from the IL before spending September trying to correct his mechanics at Triple-A Syracuse even with the Mets trying to make a playoff push. If Senga can rediscover his early 2025 form, or his form from 2023, he would give New York a true top-of-the-rotation presence alongside Freddy Peralta.
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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: 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: 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.
