New York Mets right-hander Kodai Senga has been pulled from the starting rotation and moved to the bullpen after a brutal stretch of outings pushed his ERA to 10.08, including a 9-6 home loss to the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday.
Through seven starts this season, Senga holds a 0-6 record and has surrendered nine home runs in just 27 and two-thirds innings. He has struck out 34 batters while issuing 22 walks.
In his most recent outing against Chicago, the 33-year-old allowed seven runs on three hits — including two home runs — over three and two-thirds innings. He struck out six but walked five in the losing effort.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza addressed the move ahead of Wednesday’s doubleheader against the Cubs, suggesting Senga could still play a meaningful role out of the bullpen. “Just like some of the other guys, he could be pitching like multi-inning guys,” Mendoza said. “He could be pitching high-leverage situations if we need him to. The game will dictate. We saw what he’s capable of doing. We’ve seen flashes of it.”
All 59 of Senga’s regular-season outings since joining the Mets in 2023 have come as a starter. His only relief appearance was in Game 6 of the 2024 National League Championship Series. He also served as an opener twice during that postseason, finishing with a 0-1 record and a 12.60 ERA in the playoffs.
Mendoza acknowledged there will be an adjustment period for the pitcher. “We told him, ‘You pitch an inning, you gotta be ready to go the next day,’” the manager said. “I know there’s going to be an adjustment here. We’ll take care of him, obviously, but he’s one of those guys in the bullpen.”
Senga made a strong impression in his first Mets season in 2023, finishing as the National League Rookie of the Year runner-up after going 12-7 with a 2.98 ERA in 29 starts following his move from Japan. He was limited to just one regular-season appearance in 2024 because of shoulder and calf injuries, then bounced back last season with a 7-6 record and a 3.02 ERA in 22 starts. This year, he also missed more than seven weeks due to a back injury before returning to the rotation.
In other Mets news, star outfielder Juan Soto was out of the starting lineup for Wednesday’s doubleheader after leaving Tuesday’s game early with back stiffness.
Meanwhile, shortstop Francisco Lindor, sidelined since April 22 with a left calf strain, was expected to be activated ahead of Game 2 of the doubleheader. Lindor is hitting .226 with two home runs and five RBIs through 24 games this season.
