With a lot of moving pieces lately, manager Carlos Mendoza had a lot to discuss with reporters on Friday about some of his players as the Mets gear up for the final stretch of their 2025 season in what they hope ends in a postseason berth for a second consecutive season.
Kodai Senga to the minors
Senga's struggles since his return from the IL have been well-documented. In fact, they reached a point to where New York had to make the decision to option the right-hander to the minors — a move that Senga consented to after peaceful negotiations between him, his agent and the team.
Now that Senga will pitch for Syracuse, at least for the short-term, what exactly is the plan with him?
Reported by SNY's Andy Martino and confirmed by Mendoza, Senga will make at least two starts in Triple-A. However, before that he will throw a couple of bullpen sessions to work on the mechanics that have been alluding him lately.
"Obviously he’s going to be in a more controlled environment where he’s not in the spotlight," Mendoza said. "… The plan is for him to go and throw a couple of bullpens before we put him in a game. So we’re looking at, potentially, a game next weekend.
"We got to get him back in sync. His lower half, his upper body, just everything. So that’s why we’re giving him time to work on the mound, get a feel for the mechanics before we put him in the game and then we’ll go from there."
In 22 starts this season, Senga is 7-6 with a 3.02 ERA (1.31 WHIP) and 109 strikeouts in 113.1 innings pitched. Overall, those numbers look great and are consistent with his career numbers.
However, considering he had a 1.47 ERA before going down with a leg injury in June, his numbers have not been pretty lately. Over his last seven starts, Senga is 0-3 with a 6.06 ERA (1.65 WHIP) and has been unable to pitch deep into games.
Obviously, getting Senga back on track is crucial for the Mets who have had pitching woes for much of the season after a fantastic start to the season.
"He was really, really good for us before he went down," Mendoza said. "… We’ll get with him, we’ll get his take, we’re gonna ask for his feedback and see where he’s at and then we’ll make the next decision. But as of right now, we’re gonna give him time to get on the mound."
Uncharted territory with Francisco Alvarez
Despite all odds, Alvarez is back with the team in Cincinnati getting ready to face the Reds in a huge three-game series. The return of the catcher is not only a sight for sore eyes, but an inspiration considering all he's dealt with in the past month.
"It’s pretty unbelievable," Mendoza said. "We’re talking about when he first went down with a ligament and a few days later we’re talking about potentially his season being over and then a few days later he’s already taking swings at full-go.
"And then he goes down there, first game gets hit and he’s got a fracture and then two days [later] he’s already swinging the bat. Like, this is unbelievable. And for him to be back here playing games, you gotta give him a lot of credit."
Before his injury, Alvarez was red-hot at the plate and hopes to pick up where he left off and join an offense that has been raking as of late.
Still, the plan is to take things slow with the young catcher who has already missed a big chunk of the season and has only played in 56 games.
"I think it’ll be day-to-day," the skipper said of the plan with Alvarez. "We’ll see because this is all new for all of us — for him, for me. It’s pretty intense at this level, every pitch, every at-bat, every swing so I will check with him after every game and then we’ll go from there, but again, I don’t think he knows.
"So nobody knows, we’re talking about the ligament and the pinky finger so there’s a lot going on, but he feels fine, he feels really good. The reports from the coaches in Triple-A, there’s no hesitation with him swinging the bat, throwing the ball so I’m just excited to have him back here."
Sean Manaea gets another chance
After re-signing with the Mets in the offseason, Manaea has been a huge disappointment in his second season in New York. Injured to start the year, the left-hander made his season debut right before the All-Star break and looked exceptional.
Following a few more good, albeit short, starts to kick off the second half, Manaea has completely fallen off. In 10 games (nine starts), the 33-year-old is 1-2 with a 5.60 ERA and has been getting tagged left and right.
His latest start in Detroit didn't do much to instill the Mets with confidence as he allowed five earned runs on eight hits, including two home runs, in 3.2 innings. And similar to Senga, Manaea's biggest problem has been his inability to go beyond five innings which has completely taxed New York's already overworked bullpen.
Despite his struggles, the left-hander is scheduled to pitch against the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday. When asked in what capacity, Mendoza confirmed Manaea will start the game.
However, if Manaea doesn't get things together, Tylor Megill is nearing a return from injury and could bounce him from the rotation.
"He threw a bullpen today and he’s scheduled to pitch again in Triple-A on Sunday," Mendoza said.
Megill has made five rehab starts between Double-A and Triple-A and has pitched to a 3.00 ERA over 18 innings with 26 strikeouts. Before a right elbow sprain landed him on the IL, the right-hander had gone 5-5 with a 3.95 ERA in 14 starts this season.
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