{"id":287010,"date":"2026-07-05T01:15:11","date_gmt":"2026-07-05T01:15:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/287010\/"},"modified":"2026-07-05T01:15:11","modified_gmt":"2026-07-05T01:15:11","slug":"mets-kodai-senga-finding-some-new-life-in-bullpen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/287010\/","title":{"rendered":"Mets’ Kodai Senga finding some new life in bullpen"},"content":{"rendered":"

ATLANTA \u2014 Kodai Senga\u2019s failures as a starter haven\u2019t extended into his new bullpen job.\u00a0<\/p>\n

It\u2019s still too early to declare the Mets right-hander a success as a reliever, but a second straight solid outing<\/a> Friday at least provided doses of optimism for a struggling pitcher in need of a boost.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThe preparation is different,\u201d Senga said through his interpreter after allowing one earned run over 2 \u00b2\/\u2083 innings against the Braves. \u201cThere isn\u2019t much rhythm going into it, but the job is the same: I try to do my best, try to put up zeroes, try to contribute to a win.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Senga\u2019s previous relief appearance was last weekend against the Phillies when he allowed two earned runs over five innings. <\/p>\n

Even with his recent success, Senga owns an 8.66 ERA this season, which says everything about his work as a starter.\u00a0<\/p>\n

It could be a last shot for Senga, who is signed through next season, to show he still belongs in a major league uniform.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"NewNew York Mets pitcher Kodai Senga (34) pitches throws a pitch against the Atlanta Braves during the sixth inning at Truist Park on July 3, 2026. Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

\u201cOne thing that is different, simpler: The data aspect is not going into each line of each start thinking about what pitches I can throw, what locations I can throw to each hitter versus now being a reliever I am just given the data that the team provides and going out there and pitching, so that is different for sure,\u201d Senga said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Mets can use the bullpen as an avenue toward improving Senga, allowing him a return to the starting rotation \u2014 Sean Manaea took such a path earlier this season. <\/p>\n

They also could decide Senga is best suited for the bullpen and leave him there.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Senga\u2019s quality of stuff suggests he could be used as a high-leverage reliever, not just inserted to provide coverage for multiple innings.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"NewNew York Mets pitcher Kodai Senga (34) walks to the dugout after pitching against the Atlanta Braves during the seventh inning at Truist Park. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s throwing the ball really well,\u201d interim manager Andy Green said. \u201cWhen he comes in, the first couple of innings [Friday] it was an electric fastball. The forkball really plays \u2014 it\u2019s been really good. I know he\u2019s given up a couple of home runs, but I think you have to like the look of it. The way it looks he can pitch a leverage one inning. He\u2019s got that one inning as well. If the need arises, he gave us three strong innings [Friday].\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Last year at this time, Senga was on the injured list, nearing his return from a hamstring injury that forced him to the injured list<\/a> for a month. <\/p>\n

Senga had a 1.47 ERA and was regarded as ace material for the Mets rotation.\u00a0<\/p>\n

But Senga struggled after his return from the IL and ultimately agreed to pitch the final month at Triple-A Syracuse.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Senga had two solid starts this season but began to struggle in April and was placed on the IL with lumbar spine inflammation in his lower back. <\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tMEts merch shop\t\t<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tNew York Post receives revenue from affiliate and advertising partnerships for sharing this content and when you make a purchase.\t\t<\/p>\n

He bombed in two June starts upon returning and was sent to the bullpen.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Would Senga embrace a relief role full-time?\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter where I pitch,\u201d he said. \u201cIf I am given the ball, I am going to go out there and pitch. I have started some games this year and haven\u2019t operated well as a starter, so it doesn\u2019t matter if I start in the second, third, eighth or ninth. Whatever inning it is when I am given the ball, I am going to continue to do what I can to help the club.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"ATLANTA \u2014 Kodai Senga\u2019s failures as a starter haven\u2019t extended into his new bullpen job.\u00a0 It\u2019s still too…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":287011,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[35579,20,9,11,320,10,319],"class_list":["post-287010","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-new-york","tag-kodai-senga","tag-mlb","tag-new-york","tag-new-york-headlines","tag-new-york-mets","tag-new-york-news","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/287010","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=287010"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/287010\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/287011"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=287010"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=287010"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=287010"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}