A lot is riding on tonight's start from Kodai Senga
Plus - the Mets were rained out on Monday and will play a split doubleheader on Wednesday
What’s Up with the Mets? ⚾️
The Mets and Cubs were rained out on Monday night and will play a split doubleheader on Wednesday
OG Anunoby of the NBA champion Knicks will throw out the first pitch to Jose Reyes at the Mets game against the Phillies on Sunday (SNY)
Juan Soto currently ranks 6th among NL outfielders in all-star voting (MLB)
Injury Updates 🩺
SS Francisco Lindor (calf strain) is expected to play in one more rehab game with Triple-A Syracuse tonight and could rejoin the Mets afterwards
Just Mets Podcast 🎙️
In the latest edition of the Just Mets Podcast, Andrew and Rich recapped a disappointing week for the Mets as they wrapped up their road trip against the Reds and Phillies, rehash their problems in the rotation and at first base, and a lot more.
SUBSCRIBE: YouTube | Apple Podcasts | Spotify
Down on the Farm 🌾
All Mets minor league affiliates were off on Monday
Today’s Games 🗓
Match-up: Mets (34-43) at Cubs (41-35)
Where: Citi Field - Flushing, NY
Starters: RHP Kodai Senga (0-5, 9.00 ERA) vs. LHP Shota Imanaga (4-6, 4.26 ERA)
When: 7:10 PM EDT
Where to Watch: SNY
Is Kodai Senga pitching for his Mets future tonight? ✍️
Kodai Senga has certainly enjoyed spurts of success since coming to the Mets ahead of the 2023 season.
He was brilliant as a rookie, when he struck out more than 200 hitters in 29 starts, worked to a 2.98 ERA, and was named to the National League All-Star team.
The ‘24 campaign was by all accounts a lost season for him, as injuries limited him to just one Major League start, and a couple of cameos in the postseason. The injury bug bit him again last year, as after a tremendous beginning to his season, he was never the same after a prolonged IL stint in the summer.
Which brought us to spring training this season.
Senga looked excellent in camp, and the Mets were anxious to see what a healthy version of the righty could bring to their current rotation. And devastatingly, the results have been beyond underwhelming.
Senga looks like a shell of his former self to put it bluntly. In six starts he’s allowed 24 earned runs in 24 innings. You don’t have to be a mathematician to know that amounts to a ghastly ERA of 9.00.
He’s spent time on the IL again with spine inflammation, and in his first start back from that stint, allowed three earned runs to the Reds before getting an out.
Which brings us to the here and now.
Senga has the ball tonight against the Cubs and quite frankly he needs to pitch well.
The Mets rotation has been an unmitigated disaster for the 2nd consecutive summer, but that’s not to say they’re going to keep running him out there to get shelled.
There are options in the minor leagues, that would get more excitement and interest from the fanbase, and getting those kids big league experience even in a lost season does have value.
So what could happen if Senga gets lit up by the Cubs?
Honestly I don’t know that a DFA is out of the question. The Mets still owe him just over $20 million through next season. But Steve Cohen has proven time and again that he’ll eat money to jettison a bad contract if it’s for the good of the team.
For me, this start tonight feels like it has a lot riding on it. The best version of this 2026 Mets club needed the peak version of Senga. That has certainly not been the case, and at this point it’s fair to wonder if that Senga is still in there.
If the front office reaches the point where they’re ready to concede that point, I really don’t think it’s dramatic to speculate that they could be willing to cut bait.
Around the League 🚩
LHP Framber Valdez struck out eight in six strong innings in the Tigers 5-3 win over the Yankees
Former Mets righty Michael Wacha allowed only one run in seven innings to lead the Royals to a 2-1 road victory over the Rays in Tampa
Brandon Nimmo went 3-for-3 with a double in Texas’ 4-3 win over the Marlins in Miami
The Brewers outlasted the Reds 2-1 in 10 innings
Let's be very clear: there is not "a lot riding on tonight's start from Kodai Senga." There hasn't been a lot riding on *any* Mets game for quite awhile. The season entered garbage early this year. The team is what it is and it's too late to change direction.
Is it crazy to think that he could be a competent piece out of the bullpen? I feel like he could be a good guy to come in when you need a strikeout with that fork ball.