CINCINNATI -- In what has become something like a semiannual event, the Mets welcomed Kodai Senga back from the injured list on Tuesday, engendering some hope that the former All-Star maybe, just maybe, might help save their patchwork rotation.
Within the span of three batters, those dreams evaporated as Senga issued two walks and allowed a three-run homer to Sal Stewart on an 88 mph sinker. Though Senga settled down to make it through four innings of a 5-3 loss to the Reds at Great American Ball Park, he provided only scattered evidence that he can, indeed, be an answer for the pitching-starved Mets.
“Obviously the first three batters of the game, not ideal,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “They got him there early on.”
The good news was that Senga, who missed more than seven weeks due to lumbar spine inflammation, hit 97.9 mph on the radar gun after sitting mostly in the low- to mid-90s during his rehab assignment. The bad news was that he didn’t seem to have much idea where those fastballs were going, at least early in the game. In addition to walking two batters to set up Stewart’s homer, Senga issued free passes in the third and fourth innings. He also allowed a solo homer to Spencer Steer, temporarily inflating his season ERA into the double digits.
“First time back out there on a big league mound in a little while, I just wasn’t able to gather it all together in the beginning,” Senga said through an interpreter.
Though the Mets fought back, rallying multiple times and drawing within two runs of the lead on a Mark Vientos pinch-hit two-run homer in the sixth, that was as close as they would get. Mendoza was eventually ejected for arguing balls and strikes, adding a bit of flair to the Mets’ latest loss.
In the end, though, that’s all it was: another loss. And Senga, despite his improvements as the game wore on, proved to be a significant factor in it.
Afterward, Senga noted that “my condition was good, my feel was good.” Catcher Francisco Alvarez added that the quality of Senga’s stuff was the best he had seen from the right-hander all season. But Senga couldn’t translate it all into an effective outing.
Whether deserved or not, he will almost certainly get another chance. Currently, the Mets only have two surefire rotation members in Freddy Peralta and Nolan McLean. Sean Manaea recently earned a crack at the third spot with a run of success out of the bullpen, and David Peterson, despite his struggles, continues to pitch bulk innings for the Mets every five days. Lacking obvious alternatives in the Minors, the Mets figure to continue rolling with that group.
That leaves a clear runway for Senga to reestablish himself in the fifth spot. Mendoza said as much following Tuesday’s loss, acknowledging that Senga will likely continue to start games for the Mets.
The team will, in other words, continue to win or lose with one of the league’s most perplexing pitchers. Any chance they have at catching fire will depend upon Senga’s ability to unlock some version of his past success.
“As long as I’m able to prepare the way I should prepare between outings, I should be able to go out there and be effective,” Senga said. “That’s the goal here. … That’s certainly something that I’m striving for.”