The New York Mets are having a totally disastrous 2026 season, no doubt about it. This team basically waved the white flag at the MLB trade deadline and is staring down a finish near the very bottom of the league standings. But get this, there’s actually been some surprising good vibes coming out of Flushing lately, and it ain’t just the young guns like Carson Benge and A.J. Ewing strutting their stuff. We’re talking about Kodai Senga, of all players!
After looking like an absolute train wreck early this year, Senga has potentially stumbled into his new calling on the roster: closer. Can he actually stick there for the long haul? That’s the question Bill Ladson from MLB.com threw out there as the Mets’ big puzzle for the rest of the season, and honestly, it’s a total head-scratcher, but in the best way possible.
From Disaster Start to Dominant Finishes
Ladson hit it right on the money when he asked, “Will Kodai Senga hold down the closer role?” The Mets haven’t officially stamped him as the ninth-inning guy, but interim manager Andy Green is clearly hoping this becomes a regular thing for the right-hander. And why wouldn’t he? Senga’s overall season stats are brutal, like seriously brutal. He’s rocking a hideous 7.82 ERA with a -1.5 bWAR for the year. That’s third-worst in all of baseball, with only Michael Lorenzen and Zac Gallen putting up worse numbers. Yikes!
But then August hit, and something clicked. Since making the switch to closer, Senga has done a complete 180. The Mets are an incredible 6-0 when he pitches this month. He’s already piled up four saves, boasts a sparkling 1.50 ERA, and has punched out seven batters in six appearances. Talk about a dramatic turnaround! Only one of his August outings wasn’t in the ninth inning. He came in for the seventh and absolutely cruised through it, a 1-2-3 inning with two strikeouts against the Cleveland Guardians in a 13-6 win. The dude is dealing when the pressure’s on.
What’s Next for the $75 Million Man?
This kind of production at the back end of games forces you to wonder: Do the Mets keep Senga in this role? The regular closer, Devin Williams, is currently hurt, and that opened the door for Senga to potentially grab this new long-term spot on the team. This isn’t some cheap prospect we’re talking about either. Senga is a 33-year-old All-Star, under contract through the 2027 season with a club option for 2028, all part of a five-year, $75 million deal. That’s a lot of dough, especially for a closer.
But here’s the thing: given how absolutely dreadful his production was as a starter or middle reliever this season, keeping him in this closer role might just be the smartest move for everyone involved. If nothing else, seeing Senga pitch at such a high level again this season is exactly what the Mets needed to see. It proves there’s still serious upside to his game, a reason to get excited. It just might be at the end of the games instead of the start. The big question now is, what does the rest of August look like for Senga, and can he prove this isn’t just a hot streak but a permanent transformation for the Mets’ late-inning hero?
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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