After a disastrous night on the mound Tuesday, Kodai Senga was moved to the Mets’ bullpen.
The relegation is somewhat overdue for the Japanese hurler, whose ERA has ballooned to an egregious 10.08 over his seven starts this season.
Senga has made zero relief appearances during his four seasons with the Mets.
“Just like some of the other guys, he could be pitching like multi-inning guys,” manager Carlos Mendoza said Wednesday before a doubleheader against the Cubs when asked what the bullpen assignment could look like for Senga. “He could be pitching high-leverage situations if we need him to. The game will dictate. We saw what he’s capable of doing. We’ve seen flashes of it. You see that first inning [Tuesday] and he comes out and is throwing 98-99, just throwing that fastball by people. So I think he’s just keeping it simple out of that role.
“We told him, you pitch an inning, got to be ready to go next day. I know there’s going to be an adjustment here. We’ll take care of him obviously. He’s one of those guys now in the bullpen.”
In the Mets’ 9-6 loss to the Cubs on Tuesday, Senga gave up seven runs and walked five batters in 3 ⅔ innings.
It ultimately cost him his spot in a starting rotation that ranks 27th in the majors with a 4.87 ERA.
Senga returned from a back injury earlier this month after missing more than seven weeks of action.
He’s 0-2 with a stunning 12.91 ERA since returning.
“He’s a pro,” Mendoza said of Senga’ reaction to their conversation. “He understands where we’re at as a team. He knows that he hasn’t been at his best. He’s been dealing with injuries and all that, but he knows obviously that he’s more than capable to continue to help the team win baseball games. He was very respectful, professional. He understood. He’ll be ready to go.”
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
