Morning Briefing: Senga Didn't Pitch in ASG, Focused on Mets Second Half

Kodai Senga and Pete Alonso at the 2023 All-Star Game. Via the Mets’ Twitter.

Good morning, Mets fans!

The streak is over! The National League All-Stars break the American League’s nine-game winning streak of the annual All-Star Game after a late eighth-inning rally to win 3-2. Colorado Rockies catcher Elias Diaz two-run homer late in the game sealed the deal for the National League after failing to win the All-Star Game for the past 10 years.

Diaz also took home the All-Star Game MVP Award, becoming the first Rockies player in All-Star Game history ever to win the title.

Only one of the two Mets All-Stars made their way into the game in Seattle, that being Pete Alonso. His struggles from the first half of the year showed in the game as he struck out twice at the plate, his only two plate appearances after pinch-hitting for Matt Olson.

Kodai Senga did not pitch in the All-Star Game. Senga said his plan was to stay on routine and focus on the second half.

“I think everything rolling around suddenly also plays a part in that,” Senga said through his interpreter, referring to late invite. “It was pretty unrealistic.”

“Another part is being a rookie, and first year in big leagues, a big goal of mine was to stay in the rotation throughout the whole entire year without an injury. That’s still my goal and what I’m striving for. So I’m focused on the season.”

Latest Mets News

Following the MLB Draft, which started on Sunday, here is the breakdown of who the Mets drafted and what kinds of players they are.

Kade Morris looked back on the moment he was selected by the New York Mets with the 101st pick in the 2023 MLB Draft on Monday. “I’m so happy to be a Met. I’m going to walk into that place and show my work ethic and let it talk for itself,” Morris said to Chris Correa of the Turlock Journal.

Alexis Diaz on brother Edwin’s rehab from knee surgery: “He’s doing really well,” Diaz told David Lennon of Newsday. He’s been going out and throwing 125 to 150 feet every day. He’s been recovering pretty fast. He’s a true athlete and really can recover quickly, so I hope to see him out there really soon.”

Latest MLB News

During the first round of Monday’s Home Run Derby, Luis Robert felt tightness in his right calf, according to the team. He underwent an MRI in Seattle and is listed as day-to-day. Robert will not play in tonight’s All-Star Game as a precaution and will be evaluated again before the season re-starts Friday in Atlanta.

Cardinals superstar Nolan Arenado is bracing for a selloff, even one that may include him. Jon Heyman of The New York Post dives in on how that could happen in his latest article.

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred also spoke with the media before the start of the All-Star Game, where he spoke about the changes made to the game this season and how they have affected the game thus far into the season. “Median age of our ticket buyers is down almost three years this year. I think that’s really important.”

MLB also provided fact sheets for the media showing how the game has improved for the better.

Immaculate Grid, the baseball guessing game that has taken the baseball world by storm, has been acquired by Sports Reference. “This unique opportunity and acquisition for Sports Reference is the company’s first venture into expanding its websites to have playable content,” wrote the press release from Sports Reference, the company that owns Baseball Reference and other sports reference sites.”With over one million users a day, Baseball Reference hopes to drive new traffic to the game, and vice versa.”