Mets’ Kodai Senga wins third straight start, extends scoreless streak

Kodai Senga was forced to work his way into and out of trouble at times during the Mets’ meeting with the Cardinals on Saturday, but he got the job done and helped New York secure its fourth shutout victory.

Senga retired the side in the first inning but had some heavy lifting to do in the second. A double and walk put two runners in scoring position with just one out, but Senga fanned Nolan Gorman and got a line out to end the inning.

Senga cruised through the third and fourth innings, picking up two more strikeouts along the way.

The Cardinals threatened again in the fifth inning when Thomas Saggese led off the frame with a double and then advanced to third base on a wild pitch, but a strikeout and Brett Baty'sstrong throw to home plate on a fielder's choice helped Senga dance out of danger again.

A leadoff walk, followed by a Willson Contreras single, put Senga in immediate danger again in the sixth inning. He got Brendan Donovan to roll into a double play before hitting Nolan Arenado with a pitch to end his day.

Reed Garrett entered and escaped the first-and-third jam easily -- capping off Senga’s final line at three hits, two walks, and four strikeouts across 5.2 shutout innings.

After being limited to just one regular-season start last year due to injuries, the 32-year-old has pitched to MLB's second-lowest ERA (0.79) through four outings.

Senga has taken home the victory in each of his past three starts and hasn't allowed a run, stretching his streak to 18.2 consecutive scoreless innings -- a much-needed return to form following his injury-plagued campaign.

“That’s what people saw here in 2023 -- a guy that’s going to take the baseball and he’s going to give you a chance every night,” said Carlos Mendoza. “It doesn’t matter who we’re facing. If they’ve got an ace, we feel good about our chances when he takes the ball.

“That’s what we’re looking for, and that’s what you want -- someone who is going to match the best of the best when he’s healthy and feeling good.”

The last time Senga was at the top of his game, he was the Mets’ ace, finishing seventh in 2023 National League Cy Young and Rookie of the Year voting.

Despite the success and his manager’s praise, Senga feels that he’s not quite at that form just yet.

“The pitches are coming out of my hand, and what I’m imaging them to look like, there’s still a bit of a difference,” Senga said through a translator. “I think getting used to the speed I'm throwing, going deeper into games -- my body will slowly adapt and, hopefully, I'll get closer and get to that form.”