Mets’ 2X Cy Young Winner Raises Alarm as Kodai Senga’s Absence Puts Franchise in Tough Bind

There is always a moment in every season when things just look a little too perfect—until they are not. The vibe around the Mets had been buzzing. No one expected to be talking about damage control this soon. Yet they are now staring down a stretch that could define the course of the season, and Kodai Senga is already missing from the equation. Now, a former legend is speaking up… and what he is saying is not exactly comforting.

Senga had been everything the team asked for. On Thursday, he delivered 5 2/3 scoreless innings and dropped his ERA to a league-best 1.47. Such a performance cements a star’s value. However, with one out in the sixth, that dominance came to a halt. As Senga raced to cover first on a routine grounder, he leaped for a high throw from Pete Alonso and landed awkwardly. He quickly went down holding his right hamstring and exited the field after a quick visit from the trainer and Carlos Mendoza. The Mets later confirmed it was a right hamstring strain. It quickly caught the attention of a former ace, Johan Santana.

The two-time Cy Young winner knows that this was not just any injury, because it came during a sweep-clinching win that put the team at 45–24. Santana did not downplay the effect, saying, “There is no question that it will be a big impact for me,” he said. “It’s going to be a tough one… They have to do an assessment to find out exactly what he has.”

The reality of the situation hit harder as Santana continued: “Going against rivals… You definitely have to step up. It is just a matter of waiting to see who is going to step up now.” That challenge was not just about the gap created by Senga — it was a direct challenge to the rest of the rotation. While the team has leaned on its depth before, replacing a pitcher with elite-level command and swing-and-miss stuff is a different beast.

According to insider Joel Sherman of The New York Post, the team is receiving calls from other teams about Paul Blackburn. Since he blanked the Dodgers over five innings in his season debut on June 2, Blackburn is the most likely star to replace Kodai Senga in the rotation next Wednesday against the Braves.

However, while the issue around Senga’s absence is real, the team does not exactly have time to sit back. What lies ahead could expose whether the Mets’ depth is truly championship-caliber or just good enough for a strong start. 

Rotation depth faces first real test as Rays arrive for vital set

The timing could not be tighter. Just one day after losing Senga, the Mets are staring down a three-game clash with the surging Rays. They have gone 15-6 since May 20 and remain dangerous despite offensive inconsistency. The team is starting with Clay Holmes on the mound Friday without Sanga. Holmes, who carries a 2.95 ERA this season, is capable enough, especially considering his 0.93 ERA in 19 career outings against the Bay.

The Mets’ front-end depth has been a vital part of the team’s early-season dominance. All five primary starters like Senga, Holmes, Peterson, Megill, and Canning had made 13 starts apiece and helped the team to a league-best 2.79 rotation ERA. However, now, with Senga out, the force transforms. Max Kranick is expected to return, and David Peterson could get a longer leash; however, neither provides the command and intimidation factor Senga brings. As Mendoza said, the team has been “very fortunate up to this point.”

However, Tampa Bay may not have the same pop as in years past. But it still boasts a lineup with elite threats like Junior Caminero, Brandon Lowe, and Yandy Diaz. They are the stars who have combined for over half the team’s homers. However, the Rays have been inconsistent, scoring four runs or fewer in 15 of their last 25 games. That leaves the door open for Mets to manage games, if the pitchers execute. Holmes’ matchup with Taj Bradley, who has a 4.58 ERA, is winnable, however, only if the team’s rotation maintains its top form without its anchor.

All eyes will be on how this pitching group reacts in real time. If the upcoming three games go sideways, it could fast-track management’s decisions heading into the summer stretch. But if Holmes and company do well, the Mets could prove they are deeper than anyone realized and that Senga’s absence, while significant, is not a death sentence.

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