On Sunday, August 31, the New York Mets lost 5-1 to the Miami Marlins. Starting pitcher Kodai Senga allowed five runs in 4 ⅔ innings, extending his run of difficult outings. After the game, manager Carlos Mendoza declined to commit to Senga making his next start.
“We’ve got to get him right,” Mendoza said. “I’m pretty sure we’re going to have some discussion, what’s next for him. Our job is to get him right. It’s been a struggle. It’s been a struggle, and again, we’ll see what’s next for him.”
Since returning from a hamstring injury on July 11, Senga has started nine games and posted a 5.89 ERA. His inability to pitch deep into games has been consistent: he has not completed six innings since June 6, a span of 10 consecutive starts. Over his past seven appearances, his record is 0-3 with a 6.06 ERA, 35 hits, 19 walks, and 30 strikeouts across 32.2 innings.
- Kodai Senga gave up five runs in 4 ⅔ innings against the Marlins, continuing a pattern of short outings.
- Manager Carlos Mendoza said the team must “get him right” and stopped short of guaranteeing his next start.
- The Mets’ pitching depth is being tested, with injuries, prospect call-ups, and workload concerns shaping their rotation decisions.
Mendoza Identifies Problems in the Strike Zone
Mendoza expanded on his concerns, pointing specifically to command issues.
“I think a lot of the things that we’ve seen the past couple of weeks or so where [Senga is] having a hard time coming in the strike zone, a lot of uncompetitive pitches, ball out of the hand, and then he’s having a hard time competing in the strike zone,” he said. “We saw it today, every time he came in, they made him pay… but it’s just executing and not getting ahead enough. When you get behind hitters, it’s hard to compete at this level.”
He added, “We’ve been trying to fix him for quite a bit now, you know? Whether it’s the mechanics, he said he feels fine physically, but we’re not seeing results. Like I said, he’s having a hard time competing in the strike zone.”
Sportsbooks Adjust Mets Futures and Senga’s Player Props
The performance issues have coincided with adjustments in betting markets. DraftKings once listed the Mets at +800 to win the World Series, but their odds have now lengthened to +1500, placing them 10th overall. On FanDuel, New York sits at +1400 for the World Series and +950 to win the division. Their next game moneyline is –116.
Individual markets for Senga have also shifted. According to Covers, his season line shows 21 starts, a 7–5 record, a 2.73 ERA over 108.7 innings, with 103 strikeouts and 53 walks. For the August 31 matchup against Miami, sportsbooks offered props such as strikeouts over/under 5.5, outs over/under 17.5, and earned runs over/under 1.5.
Data tracked by BetMGM illustrates longer-term betting patterns. Senga has gone under his strikeout projections in 10 consecutive starts, while the over has hit on walks in 13 of his last 15 appearances. These outcomes align with the difficulties in command described by Mendoza.
Mets Rotation Options Tested by Injuries and Workload
The Mets’ rotation depth is thin. Alongside Senga, current starters include left-handers David Peterson and Sean Manaea, and right-hander Clay Holmes. Holmes, a converted reliever, has already exceeded his previous career high in innings. Recent call-ups Nolan McLean and Jonah Tong are also in the rotation, but are moving into unfamiliar workload territory.
Several pitchers are unavailable for the remainder of the season. Right-hander Frankie Montas is out with an elbow injury, and right-hander Griffin Canning is sidelined with an Achilles injury. Tylor Megill has been out since June 17 with an elbow sprain but is nearing a return. He pitched four innings in a minor-league rehab outing on Thursday and is expected to make at least one more start before rejoining the Mets.
For Senga, alternatives are complicated. He has never pitched out of the bullpen in his three years with New York, and his last relief appearance came in 2015 with the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks in Japan. With rosters set to expand on Monday, the Mets could choose to skip his next turn, which would give him time to work outside of games without removing him from the roster.
Mets Begin Road Trip With Playoff Position in Balance
Sunday’s loss dropped New York’s record to 73-64. The Mets are now 6 ½ games behind the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League East, but hold a four-game lead in the Wild Card race. Earlier in the week, the Mets swept the Phillies in a three-game series, fueling optimism, but that moment faded after losing three of four to the Marlins.
