Kodai Senga’s Mets Future on the Line as Carlos Mendoza Drops Massive Hint Amid Desperate World Series Push

The scene was tense at Citi Field after another draining loss. Reporters leaned in, cameras blinked red, and Carlos Mendoza knew the question was coming. Kodai Senga, once hailed as the Mets’ future ace, had just slogged through another rough start, and the silence in the clubhouse said it all. This wasn’t the same pitcher who dazzled last year with a 2.98 ERA and a devastating “ghost fork” that baffled hitters across the league.

Instead, September has brought doubt. The Mets, fighting to hold on in a cutthroat National League Wild Card race, have watched Senga unravel at the worst possible time. His ERA has ballooned to 5.91 over his past nine starts, capped by a five-run outing against Miami that left the bullpen scrambling and the fans restless. Every inning has started to feel heavier, and every missed spot has become more costly, especially with the Mets’ playoff cushion shrinking.

Mendoza didn’t dodge the question. He delivered it straight: “Everything’s on the table, whether he makes the next start… there’s a lot going on right now. We just got to wait and see after we get through today.” He even admitted a potential minor-league stint would require Senga’s consent, a remarkable admission for a pitcher once untouchable in the rotation.

That uncertainty marks a sharp turn. Senga’s season numbers still carry weight: a 3.02 ERA, 109 strikeouts, and a 1.31 WHIP across 113 innings. He’s not busted, but that near-6.00 ERA, diminished command, and shorter outings spanning his last stretch are impossible to ignore. The Mets’ rotation hasn’t produced a seven-inning start since early June, and with September baseball demanding reliability, Mendoza’s words hint at a breaking point.

The looming question is who steps up if Senga steps aside. Enter Brandon Sproat, lighting it up in Triple-A with a 2.44 ERA over 59 innings. He’s not guaranteed a call-up just yet, but his dominance is a whisper away from credibility, a potential replacement threat that intensifies the pressure on Senga.

For now, Mets fans live in limbo. Will Senga steady himself in time to anchor a postseason run, or will Mendoza’s hint foreshadow a drastic shake-up? The next 48 hours won’t just decide Senga’s role; they could shape the trajectory of the Mets’ entire World Series push.

 Mets rookie Nolan McLean seizes the spotlight

When the Mets needed stability on the mound, rookie Nolan McLean didn’t blink. Against the Tigers, he looked more like a seasoned ace than a 24-year-old in just his fourth big-league start. Those first two innings were a struggle. Two runs, three hits, and three walks on 41 pitches. It looked like things might be getting away from him. Over his four innings, everything changed. McLean completely shut the door, blanking the opposition with no hits, no walks, and six strikeouts on 49 pitches. Being able to make an adjustment like that in the middle of a game is tough for anyone, let alone a rookie. Immediately, people took notice.

Carlos Mendoza couldn’t help but underline the poise he saw. “Another impressive outing from him,” the manager said. “That’s what you call pitching. Understanding you have to make adjustments and find a way to go five or six innings.” Even catcher Luis Torrens sensed something different in McLean. “He has that attitude and that flair of a superstar,” Torrens said, summing up the confidence Mets fans are quickly learning to recognize.

The timing couldn’t be sharper. As Kodai Senga stumbles with a 6.56 ERA across his past 35⅔ innings, McLean has surged to 4-0 with a sparkling 1.37 ERA. That contrast has given the Mets breathing room to consider all options with their faltering ace. Mendoza admitted Senga and Sean Manaea are “in the rotation until they are not,” a telling phrase that captures the club’s current dilemma. The unexpected boost from McLean has really helped cushion the fall, bringing a sense of stability to the line that was originally expected from Senga. As the team fights to hold on to a playoff spot, the newcomers’ sudden impact is not a bonus. It could be the thing that keeps their dreams of a World Series title within reach.