Mets' Carlos Mendoza openly discusses Kodai Senga's difficulties against the Giants
Mets' Ace Kodai Senga Struggles Against Giants, Raising Concerns
The New York Mets are trying to keep pace with the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League East, but the performance of their star pitcher, Kodai Senga, could impact their chances. Senga has been struggling with command recently, particularly against the San Francisco Giants, as evidenced by his 5.25 ERA in four starts and ten walks over twelve innings.
In his latest outing against the Giants, Senga gave up four runs, five hits, and three walks, making it through only four innings. This poor performance follows his struggles in the previous game against the same team, where he gave up three runs and five walks. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza has noted that Senga has trouble staying aggressive and tends to fall behind in counts, leading opponents to capitalize on mistakes.
Despite Senga's poor play as of late, Mendoza has faith in his ace to bounce back before the postseason begins. However, if Senga cannot round into form, the playoffs could end for New York before they even know it.
The Mets' starting rotation has been a strength of the team this season, but Senga's recent struggles could put more pressure on the offense, particularly Francisco Lindor, who had three hits and four RBIs in the game that evened up the series against the Giants.
Mendoza has spoken about Senga's issues after the game, specifically mentioning that his command could use some improvement. Senga himself has admitted to having a hard time feeling the strike zone, which seems to be affecting his pitch selection. He has been over-relying on his forkball, which has led to a loss of command over his other pitches.
Before the injury, Senga was more consistent, allowing fewer home runs. However, recently, he’s been giving up more hard contact and long balls, which has compounded his struggles. The Mets spent most of their trade deadline energy on improving the bullpen, indicating the importance they place on their starting rotation, with Senga leading the way.
In a brighter note, Pete Alonso hit a career milestone for the Mets during the game. The Mets evened up their series against the San Francisco Giants with a 12-6 win on Saturday, but Senga's struggles could still impact the team's overall performance in the series. The Mets will look to capitalize on this momentum as they continue their series against the Giants.
The New York Mets' ace, Kodai Senga, has been struggling, particularly against the San Francisco Giants, a trend that could affect their performance in the upcoming MLB playoffs. Senga's poor performance in his latest outing and his noted issues with command have raised concerns for Mets manager Carlos Mendoza, who emphasizes the need for Senga to improve his pitch selection and find the strike zone more consistently to ensure the team's success in the postseason.
