Kodai Senga. Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
It’s no secret that 2023 did not shape out as the New York Mets had hoped from the onset of the season. However, the team still supplied a number of notable individual performances, especially on the pitching end. With that, let’s take a look at the top-five pitching performances of the Mets’ 2023 campaign.
5). Justin Verlander vs. CHW 7/19/23
In one of his final starts as a Met, Justin Verlander put on a show for the home crowd against the Chicago White Sox on July 19. Coming off of an outing against the Los Angeles Dodgers where he walked six batters, Verlander bounced back with an eight-inning start where he struck out seven hitters and yielded just one run while also allowing a measly three hits and just one walk this time around in a 5-1 win. As part of his showing, Verlander set down the first nine Chicago batters in order and recorded a 3.51 FIP.
4). Max Scherzer vs. HOU 6/19/23
While 2023 was a volatile year for Max Scherzer to say the least, the 38-year-old turned back the clock with a dominant performance against the Houston Astros on June 19. On the road, against the reigning World Series champions, Scherzer cruised through eight innings in the longest outing of his Mets career. He allowed just one run, which came on a seventh inning Yainer Díaz home run, while putting up eight strikeouts and allowing just five base runners as part of an 11-1 blowout win.
3). Joey Lucchesi vs. SFG 4/21/23
Joey Lucchesi, making his first appearance in nearly two years following Tommy John surgery, set the tone for his impressive 2023 season with a shutdown outing on the road early in the year against the San Francisco Giants on April 21. Lucchesi threw seven innings in his longest outing since 2019 and recorded nine strikeouts, tied for the second-highest single-game total across his career, while allowing just four hits and two walks in an eventual 7-0 Mets victory. He registered a 1.54 FIP and 2.25 xFIP in the start as well.
2). Kodai Senga vs. TB 5/17/23
After running into some early struggles as he adjusted to the major leagues, Kodai Senga pieced together one of the Mets’ top performances of the year on May 17 against the Tampa Bay Rays. The Rays, who were off to a historic start and held a 32-11 record going into the game, were completely stymied by Senga through six innings of work. He tallied 12 strikeouts, tying a season-high, to go with one earned run as he gave up three hits and three walks before the Mets eventually won 8-7 in extras. Senga finished the start with a 0.76 FIP while additionally retiring 10 of the first 11 batters he faced.
1). Kodai Senga vs. PHI 5/30/23
Just two weeks after his exceptional outing against Tampa Bay, Senga very well may have one-upped himself against the division-rival Philadelphia Phillies. Across seven shutout innings, Senga’s only blemish was a third inning single off the bat of Kody Clemens. Otherwise, he did not allow another base runner while striking out nine Phillies on 100 pitches with a 0.68 FIP in a 2-0 Mets win. The start marked Senga’s only game of the season where he finished without issuing a walk.
