The Mets bullpen is a chaotic mess right now, but Kodai Senga proved he can handle the heat. He secured his first career MLB save in Monday’s 8-5 win over the Braves, even though a silly mistake by a teammate stole his moment. Devin Williams went on the injured list with a right shoulder strain, leaving a massive hole in the ninth inning. Senga stepped up and pitched a scoreless ninth to close out the game, yet he never got to keep the baseball as a trophy.
The Ball That Got Away
Senga wanted to keep the ball from his big save, but Carson Benge had other plans. The catcher, who recorded the final out, simply tossed the ball into the stands for a fan. Senga laughed it off but joked about the situation. “I think Bengie is trying to tell me that I should have just punched him out,” said Senga, who struck out the previous two batters in the inning. It’s a funny story, but it shows how loose the team feels right now. The Mets won the game 8-5, and that’s what matters most.
The situation with Williams is serious though. This season he has recorded 16 saves after arriving on a $51 million, three-year contract. Interim manager Andy Green explained the injury in a statement to the New York Post. “He has been dealing with a little bit of shoulder fatigue for a little while now, something he felt confident he could pitch through,” Green said. The team decided to get an MRI after his last outing to be safe.
A New Role for Senga
Senga has found his stride in this new spot. He struggled as a starter earlier in the year with an 8.29 ERA, but the bullpen has been a fresh start. He has pitched two shutout innings in high-leverage spots over the past week. Green thinks Senga is doing a great job in this role. “He was great [tonight],” Green said. “Hopefully he feels great [Tuesday] and he’s ready to go again.”
The Mets hope Williams returns soon, but they need Senga now. Green noted that Williams isn’t considered out for the season. “I know he wants to compete for us again before the year is out,” Green said. “He wants to get on the mound and finish strong.” For now, the team is averaging 7.1 runs per game on this road trip, and the offense is carrying the pitching staff through these rough times.
That’s the reality of the current roster.
Can This Bullpen Last?
The Mets traded away four key veterans before the deadline, and now they’re paying the price with injuries. The bullpen is untested, and Williams was a key piece before he got hurt. Senga has shown he can handle the pressure, but relying on a rookie closer for weeks is risky. The team needs to find a way to keep winning while waiting for Williams to heal.
The offense is firing on all cylinders with Brett Baty hitting his first career grand slam. They topped five runs in each of their last seven games. But can the pitching hold up if Senga tires out or gets hurt too? The Mets are still 14 games under .500, so every win counts. They need to keep the runs coming while the bullpen stays healthy. The next game is Tuesday night in Atlanta.
Sources: NY Post Sports, NY Post Sports, NY Post Sports
