The Syracuse shuttle is cranking full-speed ahead for the New York Mets right now, with the team making a startling series of roster moves as they try to make the playoffs while simultaneously resetting their pitching roster and starting rotation.
It’s a tough juggling act, and former Mets starter Kodai Senga might be one of the pitchers left without a seat in this ongoing roster game of musical chairs. According to Mets manager Carlos Mendoza, Senga is no sure thing to make the playoff roster, much less make a start after being demoted earlier this year.
"I think we'll have the conversation and we'll take the 13 guys that we feel are going to give us the best chance to win baseball games in October," Mendoza told ESPN via the Associated Press before today’s getaway day game against the San Diego Padres. "I think the biggest thing for him [is] to go out there today and have a good performance. And then we have decisions there."
Senga takes the mount tonight for Syracuse, and he could be pitching for that roster spot. Starter Jonah Tong rebounded from his disastrous last start against the Texas Rangers by shutting down the Padres, allowing just one unearned run in five innings as the Mets went on to post an important 6-1 win.
Senga’s fall from grace has been both stunning and unexpected, to say the least. He started the season as a co-ace with fellow starter Sean Manaea, but Manaea has been demoted to the bullpen, and Senga posted a 5.90 ERA in New York after a brilliant start before being sent down to Syracuse.
Meanwhile, the pitching staff moves are basically the latest episode in an ongoing soap opera that could be entitled “As the Roster Churns.” Key reliever Reed Garrett was placed on the injured list with a right elbow strain, while reliever Dominic Hamel was designated for assignment after a brief call-up stint to provide a warm body in the bullpen.
The shuttle runs both ways, too. Right-handers Huascar Brazobán, Chris Devenski and Wander Suero were all brought up from Triple-A, and at this point you’d need a bingo card to see who’s available to throw an inning or three on a given day.
As for Senga, his pitching lines at Syracuse have improved, and he gave up just one run in six innings in his last start there on September 13th. That might not be enough to get him back to Citi Field, though, especially with the Mets trio of rookie starters, Tong, Brandon Sproat and Nolan McLean, making it clear that they represent New York’s pitching future going forward.