The New York Mets are moving right-hander Kodai Senga to the bullpen, manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters, including Steve Gelbs of SNY.
Senga was crushed for seven earned runs over 3.2 innings on Tuesday, June 23, in a 9-6 loss to the Chicago Cubs. The outing raised his ERA above 10.00. It marked his fifth consecutive outing allowing at least three earned runs. Senga hasn’t pitched more than four innings since early April.
A back injury cost Senga all of May. He returned in mid-June. The veteran righty has ceded 11 earned runs over 7.2 innings this month.
The Mets don’t have an obvious replacement on the roster. The club was already thin on starting pitching with Clay Holmes, Christian Scott, and Tylor Megill on the injured list. Scott is expected to return to the team later this week.
New York Mets Move Kodai Senga to the Bullpen After Another Rough Start
Mendoza hinted that a change was coming after last night’s debacle. “Performance matters here, and having outings like this are not going to cut it,” Mendoza told reporters, including Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. “I’m pretty sure we’re going to have a decision, but that ain’t going to do it. We need better.”
Who Will Take Senga’s Spot in the Rotation?
GettySAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 05: Christian Scott #45 of the New York Mets pitches against the San Diego Padres during the first inning at Petco Park on June 05, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images)
Scott hit the injured list in June with a hip injury. He’s on track to return this weekend against the Philadelphia Phillies. The young righty had emerged as one of the few reliable options in the Mets’ rotation, delivering a 3.10 ERA across nine starts. Scott will ultimately have close to a minimum stint on the IL, so he should be able to step into a normal workload.
The Mets might need to paper over Senga’s spot for one more turn. Lefty David Peterson is in line for another start, despite miserable results. He was hammered for five runs over four innings against the Phillies on Sunday, June 21. The outing raised his ERA to 6.09 across 68 innings. New York has tried to move him to the bullpen, but injuries and poor performance have pushed him back into the rotation.
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