QUEENS, NY — Carlos Mendoza began his postgame discussion following the New York Mets’ 8–2 win against the Colorado Rockies by calling Kodai Senga’s performance “solid.” Pressed further, Mendoza described it as “outstanding.”
After giving up a home run to Ezequiel Tovar, the second batter of the game, Senga retired the next 17 hitters. Over 6.1 innings, he surrendered just two hits, two earned runs, and two walks. Senga credited his success to his ability to throw strikes early in the count, with 55 out of his 92 pitches being strikes, which caused the Rockies’ batters to swing earlier, helping him navigate the middle innings smoothly.
Senga’s sixth victory of the season solidified his place among the best career starts in Mets history. With 19 wins in his first 40 games, he ties with Jacob deGrom for the second-most in team history, following only Dwight Gooden’s 23 wins. Senga’s 1.60 ERA in 2025 ranks third in the majors and is one of the lowest through a Mets player’s first 11 starts, trailing deGrom and Jerry Koosman.
Saturday marked the lowest number of hits he allowed since August 2023, contributing to his 28th consecutive start allowing three runs or fewer, a streak surpassed only by deGrom and Gooden in Mets history.
The only blemish on Senga’s performance was the seventh inning when he walked Tovar and McMahon, followed by an RBI single to Thairo Estrada, prompting a pitching change. Mendoza commented, “It happens.”
In his prior three starts, Senga had thrown over 100 pitches, with a century mark reached in the sixth inning against the Dodgers, leading to his removal after a walk. Similar situations occurred against the Red Sox and Pirates.
Senga noted that when his pitch count increases, he experiences mechanical issues. He aims to use the time before his next start to refine his mechanics and strengthen himself.
Interestingly, Senga has shown struggles in the first inning, allowing six earned runs, including Tovar’s home run, compared to five in all other innings combined. The Tovar home run resulted from an 82 mph ghost forkball left in the strike zone. Senga wasn’t surprised by the hit and continued using the pitch effectively for seven strikeouts.
Senga’s resilience allows him to recover from early challenges. In a game against the Dodgers, he gave up a first-inning home run but then shut down the strong lineup.
“Ideally, I’d like to get through without giving up any runs,” Senga expressed. “But I think it’s just a result of throwing the pitches where I know that they’re going to hit it.”
Brett Baty praised Senga’s resilience, noting his ability to recover after early home runs and dominate the opposition. Baty’s own contributions included a crucial three-run triple and key defensive plays.
Senga lauded the Mets’ offense, including home runs from Brandon Nimmo, Juan Soto, and Jeff McNeil, which provided ample support for the win.
Despite his strong season and impressive stats, Senga remains committed to improvement, not focusing on his numbers, acknowledging there’s a long season ahead.
“I want to finish my outings on a strong note,” Senga stated. “Unlike today. So we have a lot of work to do.”
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