Kodai Senga is one of the game’s best pitchers when healthy. He entered Thursday’s series finale against the Washington Nationals with the National League’s lowest earned run average. He lessened it even more by working into the sixth inning, allowing no runs. His performance led the New York Mets to a sweep of the Nationals and their fifth straight win.

Unfortunately, Senga is also developing a reputation for being injury-prone. He got C.J. Abrams to ground out to first but needed to cover the bag to execute the play. He strained his hamstring and will go on the Injured List. Senga looked like he had a shot to be the National League’s starting pitcher in the All-Star Game, but now he will be out for an extended period.

Senga Brings Extensive Experience To MLB

Senga excelled in Japan, becoming one of their top baseball stars. The accolades he accumulated during his decade with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks were tremendous. He won the Japan Series five times, including four in a row from 2017 to 2020. He claimed the Japanese Triple Crown in 2020, leading in wins, strikeouts, and ERA. He pitched a no-hitter on September 6, 2019. Senga made it to the Nippon Professional Baseball All-Star team three times.

Senga exercised his international free agent rights in the 2022 offseason, leading to an extensive bidding war. Mets owner Steve Cohen and his massive wallet landed Senga to a five-year, $75 million contract. Cohen has proven he will aggressively pursue younger talent who can help market the team to greater heights.

Senga Excels In Rookie Season

Senga wasn’t a prototypical rookie due to his ample professional experience. He still had an adjustment to the majors. Japanese pitchers, for example, pitch once a week in their baseball leagues. He had to learn how to start every five days. He also adapted to a new country and a new way of life, and it took time to get comfortable.

Senga started slowly in 2023, working through command and fatigue issues. Once he got acclimated, he took off. He struck out 12 batters against the Tampa Bay Rays, breaking the Mets franchise record for strikeouts by a Japanese pitcher.

Senga made it to the NL All-Star team as an injury replacement for Marcus Stroman. He notched his 200th strikeout of the season on September 27th against the Miami Marlins, becoming the first New York rookie since franchise icon Dwight Gooden.

Senga finished the season with an excellent 12-7 mark, a 2.98 earned run average, and an outstanding 202 strikeouts in 166 1/3 innings pitched. He finished second in the NL Rookie of the Year behind Arizona Diamondbacks phenom Corbin Carroll. He also finished seventh in the NL Cy Young Award voting.

Senga Can’t Stay Healthy In 2024

Senga experienced a highly frustrating 2024 season. He started the year on the IL due to a strain in his throwing shoulder. The injury kept him out until late July; he made a critical start against the Atlanta Braves. He dominated Atlanta, pitching 5 1/3 innings, allowing two runs and striking out nine. Senga also suffered a high-grade calf strain that kept him out for the remainder of the regular season.

General Manager David Stearns and Manager Carlos Mendoza made the call to include Senga on the NL Division Series and NL Championship Series rosters. He struggled mightily with command, as should have been expected. He finished with a 12.60 ERA and four strikeouts in five innings pitched.

Senga Bounces Back

Senga’s health became a leading Mets story as the season began. He stayed on the mound and elevated his performance from his excellent rookie season. He made 13 starts, only one of them giving up more than three runs. He allowed fewer than three scores in 11 of his 13 appearances.

New York won nine of his 13 starts and saw Senga continue to lower his earned run average each time out. Before the hamstring injury against the Nationals, he shut Washington down, allowing only one hit and taking a stranglehold on the NL’s best ERA, 1.47. He improved his record to 7-3, and his five strikeouts gave him 70 for the season in 73 2/3 innings.

End Of My Kodai Senga Rant

How long will Senga be out? Unfortunately, that is the focus on him once again. He is a thrill to watch due to his outstanding pitching arsenal and composure. The Mets have MLB’s best rotation based on performance, but Senga has been the catalyst for its success. Any time he misses stings.

The baseball saying that one can never have enough pitching proves true every season. Cohen and Stearns emphasized building up pitching depth in the offseason. New York has several options while Senga recuperates.

Sean Manaea, the projected ace before his injury, has made several rehab starts. He is probably a few weeks away, and his return will help. Frankie Montas Jr should also be back with the Mets soon. He is a quality veteran arm who will give Mendoza much strategic flexibility.

New York can go to Paul Blackburn while they anticipate the return of their rehabbing starters. He pitched outstanding in his season debut on the road against the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Mets have the option to use some of their excellent minor league arms. Brandon Sproat and Nolan McLean are only a phone call away in Triple-A Syracuse. McLean, especially, has excelled with a 2.48 earned run average.

Stearns can also go bold by calling up phenom Jonah Tong from Double-A Binghamton. He is the minor league strikeout leader who pitched in a combined perfect game earlier in the season. He is 5-3 with a 1.99 ERA and looks more unhittable each start.

New York has been on a roll. They have won six straight games and 15 of their last 18. They have the best overall record at 45-24 and a 5 1/2 game lead on the NL East. They are a balanced squad that plays with confidence and fortitude. Losing Senga hurts, but they have the depth and makeup to stay on course.