The New York Mets are in the thick of a playoff race and what most Mets fans believed would be their ace starter now has some major questions surrounding him.
Kodai Senga came to the Mets with all sorts of appeal. His ghost fork slider made him famous overseas and there are times when that pitch looks literally unhittable. Few questioned if Senga could pitch at the big-league level but his career ERA suggests that not only can he pitch here, but he is the ace of a playoff team.
The problem is that the questions about durability from foreign born players is proving to be a very valid issue. Senga has suddenly had a hard time putting in innings and he is getting hit much harder then we've seen. He has never been a high innings starter. Most of the workhorse pitchers have gone the way of the dinosaur anyway, but Senga is even less than that. Senga has failed to complete 5 full innings 4 of his last 6 turns in the rotation and has done so only three times since June 12th.
In addition to his not being able to help the bullpen and give valuable innings he also has been getting hit hard. Senga has allowed 19 hits and 12 runs in his last 13 2/3 innings. So, the question facing the Mets is can they trust him down the stretch or even into the playoffs.
That is a question that they might soon be confronted with because they have some arms returning. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza alluded to the decision he will soon face after Senga's last start telling the media, “We’ve got to get him right, obviously. I’m pretty sure we’re going to have some discussion about what’s next for him. But our job is to get him right. But it’s been a struggle. It has been a struggle. And again, we’ll see what’s next for him,".
That comment led many to believe a possible bullpen stint might be on the horizon for Senga but Mendoza all but shut that down saying “They are part of the rotation,” speaking about Senga and Manaea, per a September 1 article from Mike Puma “So, our job is trying to find a way to help [them] and that’s what we will do.”
With Megill on the mend and the Mets young arms looking like aces themselves one has to wonder how long Mendoza can continue to roll out a starter who can't give the team innings.