Everything that could go wrong has gone wrong for the Mets. The team has lost 13 of the last 15 contests, with another frustrating 4-3 loss to the Atlanta Braves on Thursday night at Citi Field. New York is 19-33 since June 12, and needs to get more out of Kodai Senga and Sean Manaea.
The Mets haven’t gotten the big hit, the starters struggle to pitch past the fourth or fifth inning, and relievers have given up leads and ultimately lost.
Mets observers have drawn a comparison to the 2007 Mets team, which blew a seven-game lead in the NL East with 17 games left to play and missed the playoffs after losing 12 of their final 17 games that season. (The Phillies ultimately won the division on the final day of the season.) But it would be a worse outcome than in 2007 if the Mets miss the playoffs this year. Why? There are more wild-card spots available, and this team has the second-highest payroll in the league at $339 million.
Maybe the Mets are not as good as last year, but they are better than they have shown this season.
Entering Friday’s game against the Seattle Mariners at Citi Field, the Mets are 1/2 game ahead of the Cincinnati Reds for the last wild-card spot, and they are only five games behind the Phillies for first place in the NL East.
I can tell you this is not going to be sustainable if Kodai Senga and Sean Manaea continue to be underwhelming.
Once again, Senga was a disappointment in his start Thursday night. Yes, he allowed two earned runs on five hits with a walk and seven strikeouts to show for it in 5 2/3 innings. 61 of his 93 pitches were strikes. But here’s the problem: he couldn’t finish the sixth inning. Sure, he was the first Mets starter in over a week to complete five innings, but that’s setting the bar low.
Photo courtesy AP/Pamela Smith
Senga was signed to be a workhorse that would eat up innings and give quality starts. The Mets even accommodated him by making him start once every six days, since this is when he shines. The Mets need a better return from him than he has shown since coming off the injured list. That means giving the team six or seven good innings. Before his start against the Braves, Senga averaged four innings of work with a 5.31 ERA since his return from the injured list.
You can make a case that he’s trying to find his way after missing time with a hamstring injury by falling while making a play against the Washington Nationals. At some point, the Mets ace has to figure it out.
Senga can start by maintaining his concentration and not giving in once he faces the hitters for the third straight time. It happened again in the sixth inning. Once he gave up a leadoff walk to Matt Olson and Drake Baldwin got on base with a fielder’s choice, he allowed a hit to Michael Harris II, and that was the end of his night.
For Mendoza to use Tyler Rogers in the sixth inning is not a good position to be in. Managers need to use their best relievers starting in the seventh inning, and the relievers have been overworked all season long because the starters can’t go deep in games. It continues to be a problem.
If Senga had completed the sixth inning by not losing it, Mendoza could have used a fresh Rogers in the seventh and worked his bullpen to a better execution. To blame Ryan Helsley for the loss is missing the point. It’s on Senga to man up and pitch like a supposed ace in a game of this magnitude, and he failed to get it done.
Senga was encouraged after the game. He should feel that way because this may have been the best he has felt since coming off the injured list. That just shows you that he hasn’t been that great. The Mets need more from him for them to get out of this malaise.
Sean Manea (photo courtesy SNY)
The same can be said for Manaea after pitching to a 4.33 ERA in six appearances. He is coming off another atrocious start, in which he allowed four runs on six hits and two walks over four innings against the Milwaukee Brewers. This happened after he had a 5-0 lead to work with at the start. He has to be better than this.
Right now, it’s mental, as both are finding their way. The Mets don’t have much time for them to figure it out. It’s go time now.
To rely on Nolan McLean and Brandon Sproat to save the Mets’ season is crazy and unrealistic. They are rookies, and that means they will go through rough times. Sure, they could include some great outings to wow people, but it’s unfair to expect them to handle the pressure of getting it done.
That is why it’s on Senga and Manaea to figure it out. They have been in the league for a while. They should know how to navigate the Mets out of this mess they are in.
They both have remarkable stuff, but right now, they have a mental block where they are struggling to face hitters the second or third time around. For Senga to lose it is not helping his and the Mets’ cause.
They need to keep it simple. Just pitch and not think about fatigue setting in or trying to survive. In other words, they need to grind it out and not give in.
It shouldn’t be a problem for two veteran sages who have gone through the grinder.
