The Mets are still trying to find something steady in a season that keeps slipping further off course, but Sunday’s 5-4 loss to the Phillies at least gave them a few things to chew on. They dropped the series, yet every game stayed tight to the end, and the three-game set ended with Philadelphia outscoring New York 11-9. The frustration came through loudest in the finale, where the Mets left 14 runners on base.
One of the biggest takeaways came from Kodai Senga, who was pushed into a full-time bullpen role on June 24 after a brutal start against the Cubs. In that outing, he lasted 3.2 innings, gave up seven runs on three hits, walked five and struck out six.
Carlos Mendoza didn’t sugarcoat it afterward: “Having outings like this are not going to cut it,” Mendoza said on the outing from Senga (h/t SNY Mets). “I'm pretty sure we're going to have a decision, but that ain't going to do it.”
Sunday’s turn in relief looked a lot different. With an open rotation spot and the Mets returning to the bullpen plan, Senga took over after Cionel Pérez and Tobias Myers handled the early work.
He wound up covering five innings, and while he did take the loss, the blame doesn’t land entirely on him. After the Mets grabbed their first lead of the afternoon, Senga inherited a 4-3 edge and immediately saw it erased when Kyle Schwarber launched a two-run homer on a fastball left right down the middle.
Even so, the outing had some encouraging signs. Senga allowed four hits, gave up the two runs on Schwarber’s homer, struck out four and walked one. The most eye-catching part was the velocity, with the 33-year-old touching 100 mph while getting consistent results with his ghost fork.
“I was prepared. ... It's up to me,” Senga said on his outing.
“If I can't compete, then I don't deserve a spot in the rotation. On the flip side, if I am able to compete, I do feel like I can throw in the rotation.”
Kodai Senga on his comfort level pitching out of the bullpen:"I was prepared...it's up to me. If I can't compete...then I don't deserve a spot in the rotation. On the flip side, if I am able to compete, I do feel like I can throw in the rotation." pic.twitter.com/7OA8Yl4JxQ
With David Peterson traded to Chicago last week, Senga’s work out of the bullpen may be asked for again sooner rather than later.
Off the field, Steve Cohen found himself back in the middle of the conversation after responding on X to fan frustration. The backdrop was Friday’s incident at Citi Field, when a security guard took away a fan’s “Fire David Stearns” sign and the fan was then escorted out by police for “disturbing” fans. As he left, the crowd began chanting the message on the sign, which only added to the anger around the situation.
Cohen addressed one fan who asked why the person had been removed.
“I’m cool with fans expressing themselves and carrying signs," Cohen wrote. "I’m not cool when fans around him are complaining that he was ruining their day at the ballpark.
He was belligerent and was asked to be more considerate to paying customer around him. Unfortunately, he refused.”
I’m cool with fans expressing themselves and carrying signs . I’m not cool when fans around him are complaining that he was ruining their day at the ballpark .
He was belligerent and was asked to be more considerate to paying customer around him. Unfortunately , he refused.
The owner’s reply quickly spread through the fanbase, and more questions followed, including one about the team’s plan moving forward and whether Cohen intended to speak more publicly. That’s been part of his pattern already this season - he’s stayed active in the public eye, whether through tweets or a press conference, and has repeatedly let fans see his thoughts in real time.
There’s also injury news on Clay Holmes, who said he got another X-Ray on his leg last week and “everything checked out.” He has been throwing flat ground work and is scheduled to throw off a mound next week. Holmes said he won’t need a full spring training ramp-up, though he wouldn’t put a target on a return.
The Mets now head into a critical six-game road trip, beginning Monday at Rogers Centre against the Blue Jays. Sean Manaea will get the ball in the opener, with the veteran left-hander entering at 1-2 with a 4.87 ERA.
Toronto will counter with rookie right-hander Trey Yesavage, who is 3-3 with a 3.56 ERA. First pitch is set for 7:07 p.m.
ET.
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