Mets’ Playoff Push to Face Major Roadblock After Carlos Mendoza Drops Grim Hint on $75M Star’s Future

The New York Mets just got a gut check, as they dropped three of four games to the Miami Marlins. Shocking, yes! Because they just had a great week riding off a sweep of the Philadelphia Phillies. This was not just another loss; it was a crushing blow to their postseason hopes because it highlighted gaps in their roster. Their pitching staff, which was supposed to carry the team in October, looked more like it was on damage control mode than one to fuel the postseason.

And at the center of it was none other than the $75 million arm Kodai Senga. Senga lasted just 4.2 innings in that game, giving up seven hits, five earned runs, and two walks. Sure, he managed six strikeouts, but the damage was done. The Mets were counting on Senga to anchor their rotation, but the reality is that pre-injury Senga was completely different.

Please, Carlos Mendoza is not someone who sugarcoats things. He mentioned, “I’m pretty sure we’re going to have some discussion about what’s next for him, but our job is to get him right. It’s been a struggle… again, we’ll see what’s next for him.” When a manager openly worries about what’s next for his ace in the postseason, it’s a red flag for sure. And overall, now even the experts are raising an alarm for the New York Mets and their postseason dreams—simply because of who they have to face next.

The NY Times pointed out in their pieces, “The Mets appeared to have found their footing last week, sweeping the Phillies. But losing three of four to the Marlins over the weekend was an awful way to set up for this next stretch—a 10-game trip to Detroit, Cincinnati, and Philadelphia.” Hence, the gist is that the margin for error is razor-thin. The Mets still hold a four-game lead over the Reds for the final wild card spot, but Cincinnati beat them in a series just earlier this year. So, in other words, this trip could either go on to stabilize their playoff hopes or send them spiraling down.

And the entire Kodai Senga debate couldn’t be at a worse time than this for the Mets. He started the year strong with a 1.47 ERA before landing on the IL in June. But since returning, he has been abysmal, with a 5.91 ERA across nine starts. Senga knows he is not putting out his best, saying that his body “isn’t moving the way I want it to.” But while the honesty is refreshing, the fact is that no Met fan would want to hear this before the playoffs. And if Senga couldn’t rebound, then the Mets might need to turn their attention to youth. And there are definitely promising names making enough noise to demand attention. One that is even compared to the next Paul Skenes!

Two young arms who can fuel the New York Mets’ postseason dreams

The New York Mets sure may have stumbled poorly in August, but even for them, there is an optimism in the air. Because they are not out of the race just yet, and they seem to have two young pitchers that they can rely on. One name that’s on everyone’s lips is rookie sensation Nolan McLean. Mets fans have been tracking him for a while, but the rest of the baseball world is finally waking up.

In just three starts, for example, McLean already has a stellar 3-0 record with an eye-turning 0.89 ERA and 21 strikeouts over 20 innings. His latest outing, where he went eight scoreless frames against the Phillies, where he struck out six and didn’t allow a single walk, says all about his potential. And his talent is such that even the opposition can’t help gushing about him.

Phillies commentator John Kurk said, “That young man is going to be a big problem for every team he faces in the future. His repertoire is some of the best I’ve seen all season.” Even the fellow analyst Tom McCarthy said McLean’s dominance is the same as some of the league’s top arms. “No doubt about it. We’ve seen Skenes twice. We’ve seen some other pitchers who were pretty dominant. But [McLean] was really dominant.” But McLean isn’t the only one turning heads.

Jonah Tong is another player who has had just one major league start so far and has turned eyes towards him. Waiting in the wings is also Brandon Sproat—so plenty of arms to add depth to the rotation. Now, the good news is the Phillies will be missing Zack Wheeler, so the Mets’ way just got a little bit better.