The New York Mets are going through a tough stretch in the season and much of the attention has focused on the performance of their presumed ace, Kodal Senga. The Japanese right-hander had another complicated outing against the Miami Marlins, allowing five earned runs in just 4.2 innings of work. With this performance, it is now 10 consecutive starts without completing at least six innings.
Beyond the statistics, what worries the Mets’ environment the most is the lack of solidity in the starting rotation. Outside of rookie Nolan McLean, consistency has been conspicuous by its absence and Senga, who arrived with high expectations, has been one of the main culprits.
After the defeat against Miami, manager Carlos Mendoza was blunt when asked about Senga’s future in the starting rotation:
We have to get him back, obviously. I’m pretty sure we’ll talk about his future… We’ll see what the future holds for him. It’s been a struggle
Will Senga and Manaea remain in the Mets’ starting rotation?
The manager’s comments set off alarm bells among fans and analysts, who interpreted that Senga’s continuity in the rotation was in doubt. However, a day later, Mendoza clarified his position and reaffirmed his confidence in his veteran starters.
After the game on September 1, where Sean Menaea also had a poor performance, Mendoza was emphatic:
They’re part of the rotation. So our job is to find a way to help them, and that’s what we’ll do
This would confirm, at least for now, that neither Senga nor Menaea will be removed from the rotation. The left-hander has also had an inconsistent campaign after missing the first half of the year with an oblique strain.
The threat of rookie pitchers and the possible postseason scenario
Despite the support of the public, the outlook is not entirely stable in New York, the emergence of rookie Nolan McLean and the solid debut of Jonah Tong last week, put natural pressure on the more experienced players.
If the Mets get their ticket to the postseason, it would not be unreasonable to think of a change of roles within the rotation. Senga and Manaea will have to prove that they can still be reliable pieces or they could be relegated to a secondary role when it matters most.
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