Kodai Senga's transition to the bullpen has yielded encouraging results for the New York Mets, as the right-hander has demonstrated improved performance in his new relief role after facing difficulties as a starter.
In his latest appearance Friday against the Atlanta Braves, Senga pitched 2 ²/₃ innings, allowing only one earned run. This outing followed a previous relief appearance last weekend against the Phillies, where he pitched five innings and surrendered two earned runs.
"The preparation is different," Senga said through his interpreter. "There isn’t much rhythm going into it, but the job is the same: I try to do my best, try to put up zeroes, try to contribute to a win."
Despite these recent positive performances, Senga's season ERA stands at 8.66, largely reflecting his struggles as a starting pitcher. The move to the bullpen could represent a crucial opportunity for Senga, who is under contract through next season, to prove his value in a major league uniform.
"One thing that is different, simpler: The data aspect is not going into each line of each start thinking about what pitches I can throw, what locations I can throw to each hitter versus now being a reliever I am just given the data that the team provides and going out there and pitching, so that is different for sure," Senga commented.
This bullpen stint offers the Mets a potential pathway to help Senga regain his form, similar to how Sean Manaea navigated a period in relief earlier this season before returning to the rotation. Alternatively, the team might decide that a full-time relief role is his best fit.
Interim manager Andy Green noted Senga's effective pitch arsenal. "He’s throwing the ball really well," Green said. "When he comes in, the first couple of innings [Friday] it was an electric fastball. The forkball really plays — it’s been really good. I know he’s given up a couple of home runs, but I think you have to like the look of it. The way it looks he can pitch a leverage one inning. He’s got that one inning as well. If the need arises, he gave us three strong innings [Friday]."
Last year at this time, Senga was sidelined with a hamstring injury. After returning, he struggled and eventually pitched the final month of the season at Triple-A Syracuse. This season, after two promising starts, he began to falter in April and was placed on the injured list with lumbar spine inflammation. Following two difficult starts in June upon his return, he was moved to the bullpen.
When asked about embracing a full-time relief role, Senga expressed adaptability. "It doesn’t matter where I pitch," he stated. "If I am given the ball, I am going to go out there and pitch. I have started some games this year and haven’t operated well as a starter, so it doesn’t matter if I start in the second, third, eighth or ninth. Whatever inning it is when I am given the ball, I am going to continue to do what I can to help the club."