Mets sending Kodai Senga to the bullpen amid prolonged struggles

Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News on Jun 24, 2026

Published in Baseball

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

NEW YORK — The confounding Kodai Senga saga took another twist Wednesday, as the Mets are removing the struggling starter from their rotation and sending him to the bullpen.

The decision came a day after Senga surrendered seven runs, five walks and two homers in 3 2/3 innings in Tuesday night’s 9-6 loss to the Chicago Cubs at Citi Field.

In seven starts this season, Senga is 0-6 with a 10.08 ERA.

“He understands where we’re at as a team,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said ahead of Wednesday’s doubleheader against the Cubs. “He knows that he hasn’t been at his best.”

The Japanese-born Senga, 33, has never pitched out of the bullpen in any of his four MLB regular seasons, though he did make one relief appearance during the 2024 playoffs.

Mendoza said the Mets could deploy the right-hander as a multi-inning reliever or in shorter, higher-leverage situations.

“We told him, ‘If you pitch an inning, you’ve got to be ready to go the next day.’ I know there’s going to be an adjustment here,” Mendoza said. “We’ll take care of him, obviously, but he’s one of those guys now in the bullpen.”

The demotion continues a stark downturn for Senga, who emerged as their ace during an All-Star 2023 campaign — his first season in the majors — with a 2.98 ERA and 202 strikeouts in 166 1/3 innings.

Shoulder and calf strains limited Senga to just one regular-season start in 2024, though he looked to have returned to form in the first half of 2025.

Senga boasted a 1.47 ERA through 14 starts last season, until a calf injury resulted in a month-long stint on the injured list. Upon returning, Senga pitched to a 5.90 ERA over nine starts before agreeing to go to Triple-A.

This year has been even more difficult for Senga, who has issued 22 walks and allowed nine home runs in 27 2/3 innings.

After a seven-week IL stint due to lumbar spine inflammation, Senga returned on June 16. He’s been hit hard in both of his outings since then, pitching to a 12.91 ERA and allowing four homers and nine walks in 7 2/3 innings.

“I’ve never experienced something like this in my career,” Senga said through a team interpreter after Tuesday’s defeat. “It’s hard to pinpoint one specific thing.”

Senga is in the fourth season of a five-year, $75 million contract. He would have to agree to go to the minor leagues, as he did last year, for the Mets to option him.

The Mets and Senga did take some encouragement that the right-hander pumped 98-mph fastballs throughout a 1-2-3 first inning Tuesday, even if he failed to maintain his effectiveness from there.

“We’ve seen flashes of it, but then you see the next inning and he’s throwing sinkers, cutters,” Mendoza said Wednesday. “I think maybe out of this [bullpen] role, he’ll simplify. ‘Hey man, throw your best pitches in the strike zone. You’re pretty good when you do that.’ Our job is to help him.”