Kodai Senga Not Guaranteed a Mets Playoff Roster Spot

The New York Mets are right in the thick of a wild playoff race, and honestly, every little roster tweak feels like it could make or break their shot at October. One storyline that’s got everyone buzzing? Kodai Senga’s fight to get back onto the mound in Queens. He’s currently pitching for Triple-A Syracuse, clawing his way back to the big-league roster. With the postseason creeping closer and the Mets juggling injuries, paternity leave, and some shaky performances, the pressure’s on to get these last decisions right.

Kodai Senga’s Journey Back to Queens

Senga’s 2024 season started off with a bang. He posted a jaw-dropping 1.47 ERA across his first 12 starts, and his pitch mix had fans convinced the Mets finally had their ace. Then disaster struck. A hamstring injury threw everything off, and his ERA shot up to 5.90. That slump led the front office to send him down to Triple-A on September 5.

Syracuse Performance Offers Encouragement

Instead of hanging his head, Senga has been dealing in Syracuse. In his latest start, he fanned eight batters and didn’t walk anyone. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza called that kind of command a really positive sign. If Senga keeps this up, he’s making a real argument for a postseason roster spot.

Mendoza’s Postseason Pitching Puzzle

Mendoza hasn’t minced words: he’ll pick the best 13 pitchers for October, no matter what their contract says or how big their name is. Even Senga has to earn his spot back by pitching well, not just by reputation. The Mets have been here before. Last year, injuries battered their pitching, but they still found a playoff role for Senga—though it was a limited one, just three short postseason outings.

A Tight NL Playoff Race

Now, the Mets are heading into the home stretch with almost zero room for mistakes. As of Thursday, they were barely ahead of the Diamondbacks, Reds, and Giants in the NL Wild Card chase. One tough week could knock them out, so every pitching decision feels huge right now.

Pitching Staff Depth Tested Again

The injury bug just won’t let up. Reed Garrett, a reliable reliever, landed back on the injured list with elbow problems—his second time out in a month. He’d been steady, putting up a 3.90 ERA over 58 games. Mendoza admitted there’s a real chance Garrett won’t make it back before the season wraps, which is a big blow to the bullpen.

Triple-A Call-Ups Filling the Gaps

So, the Mets are calling for reinforcements from Syracuse again. Huascar Brazobán, Chris Devenski, and Wander Suero have all been summoned. Each of them brings something different to the table, and honestly, the team needs at least one to step up and cover some crucial innings. There’s a lot riding on these guys right now.

Bridging Innings Without Manaea

Just to make things trickier, Sean Manaea is out briefly on paternity leave. Totally understandable, but it means the Mets have to lean even harder on their bulk relievers. Not ideal, especially in September when every game feels do-or-die. This bullpen-by-committee thing? It’s going to test everyone—rookies and vets alike.

Why Every Decision Matters Now

The Mets are fighting a battle on two fronts. They need to lock in their playoff spot and get the pitching staff ready for October’s pressure.

Kodai Senga’s readiness is a huge question mark. If he gets back to his early-season form, his return could give New York the late-season jolt they’ve been hoping for.

In the next few weeks, the Mets will probably keep making tough, sometimes even cutthroat, roster moves. In baseball’s long grind, the postseason rarely comes down to one big move.

It’s all about those small advantages. Sometimes, it’s just having the right pitcher at the right moment—think Kansas City in 2014, San Francisco in 2012, or maybe the Mets this year.

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