Do you know the saying, “When it rains, it pours”?
Well, what comes after it pours?
Kodai Senga struggled yet again in the second game of Sunday’s doubleheader, allowing three earned runs in only 2 2/3 innings, giving up three hits, three walks, and striking out one. Senga’s ERA ballooned to 9.00, lasting only 20 innings through five starts. The Mets were swept by the Rockies, scoring only four runs in three games.
Senga has given up two earned runs or more in nine consecutive starts dating back to August 14th of last year, and has not completed more than six innings since May 31, 2025.
“I know what’s going on. I know why I’m not able to perform… I just wasn’t able to get there and perform today,” Senga told reporters after his start. “These past few games, I’m not able to do my role as a starting pitcher since I’ve given up runs early in the game”. Well, what exactly is happening that is causing him to struggle so much?
I’m sure many Mets fans are screaming at the screen right now: He walks too many guys. Sunday, Senga walked three batters in 2 2/3 innings, raising his walk rate to 13.4% on the season. This walk rate is currently tied for 9th of any pitcher (min. 20 IP). Dating back to the start of 2025, Senga has walked two or more hitters in 24 of the last 27 starts he has made. It is impossible to be successful in this league when you are giving free passes that frequently.
Okay, so he walks too many people. What else is wrong? Well, simply put, Senga does not have a single reliable pitch outside of the ghost fork. This year, Senga has thrown four different pitches at least 38 times (Fastball, Cutter, Forkball, Sweeper). Hitters are hitting .292 or greater against each of those besides the ghost fork, and slugging .824 or greater against his cutter and sweeper. Against the Rockies, Hunter Goodman‘s home run came off a fastball, the fourth time this year Senga has given up a home run off of a fastball or cutter.
Senga is struggling to keep the ball on the ground, which allows opposing teams to do damage. Senga’s ground ball rate is only 30%, ranking in the 10th percentile of qualified major league pitchers. His fly ball rate of 32% is a career high and the first time above 25.2%. Putting people on base and then being unable to generate ground balls is a recipe for disaster.
Where do you go from here? Senga was asked about the potential of accepting a demotion to Triple-A Syracuse.
“That warrants a lot of discussion with a lot of different people,” he said. There is no great option for the Mets here. With the struggles of David Peterson and Sean Manaea, there is no “plug and play” option available at the major league level. The Mets could opt for utilizing Tobias Myers as a starter, or potentially turn to unpolished options currently in Triple-A, such as Christian Scott or Jack Wenninger. These options could involve some sort of demotion, DFA, or trade for Senga.
One thing is clear: The Mets need to be evaluating other options for starters. You cannot allow Senga to remain in the rotation and expect to compete. The famous definition of insanity is to do the same thing over and over again and expect a different result. Continuing to pitch Kodai Senga and expect different results is, by that definition, insane.
