Nolan McLean, a rookie starter, had another excellent game Tuesday as the New York Mets defeated the Detroit Tigers for their second straight victory.
McLean has 28 strikeouts and an outstanding 1.37 ERA in his first four big-league outings. However, if the Mets’ pitching staff hadn’t encountered so many issues, he might not have received a promotion at all.
Frankie Montas will be shifted to the bullpen, and the Mets have had to fill some voids following the injuries to Tylor Megill and Griffin Canning. In the meantime, a number of seasoned starters, including former standout Kodai Senga, are having trouble.
“With Senga, the Mets are considering a few possibilities, including potentially asking him to accept an optional minor-league assignment, people familiar with their thinking said,” Will Sammon of The Athletic said. “Senga, however, may not be assigned to the minors without his consent, according to his contract.”
A transfer to the minor leagues would be a major setback for Senga, who signed a five-year, $75 million contract with the Mets. Despite missing a significant amount of time due to an injury last year, he earned an All-Star berth with a 2.98 ERA season in his first campaign. His ERA is a solid 3.02 so far this season, but he hasn’t been at his best in his previous few starts.
“A potential demotion because of poor performance would present a significant fall for Senga, who finished runner-up for the NL Rookie of the Year,” said Sammon. “But Senga hasn’t completed six innings in a start since June 6.”
Senga has publicly said that he is prepared to do everything it takes to help the squad win. Additionally, Carlos Mendoza, the manager, stated that the squad will be accommodating when it comes to his future starts. However, if Senga believes that a different route might help him regain his ace form, he may be prepared to use his ability to prevent a possible demotion.
