The New York Mets have optioned struggling right-hander Kodai Senga to Triple-A Syracuse, the team announced Friday.
Senga’s demotion comes after he failed to complete six innings since June 6 and posted a 6.56 ERA over his past eight starts. He also missed more than a month this season with a strained right hamstring.
An All-Star in 2023 and runner-up for National League Rookie of the Year, Senga had been the Mets’ best starter early this season before this period of ineffectiveness. The 32-year-old right-hander is 7-6 with a 3.02 ERA in 22 outings overall.
“I’m pretty sure we’re going to have some discussions about what’s next for him,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said of Senga last weekend. “Our job is to get him right. But it’s been a struggle.”
Because of language in his contract, the Mets needed Senga’s consent to send him to the minors.
The Mets activated catcher Francisco Alvarez from the injured list and right-handed reliever Wander Suero after they claimed him off waivers from the Atlanta Braves on Thursday.
Alvarez had been on the injured list since suffering an ulnar collateral ligament sprain in his right thumb when he was sliding headfirst into second base Aug. 17 during the Major League Baseball Little League Classic in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. He then saw his return delayed by a fracture in the pinkie finger of his left hand suffered on a hit by pitch while playing for Syracuse.
The UCL sprain will require surgery to fully heal, but the Mets are hopeful Alvarez can postpone the procedure until the offseason.
The Mets are trying to nail down a playoff berth down the stretch. New York began the day four games in front of San Francisco for the final NL wild card and five ahead of Cincinnati. The Mets and Reds are beginning a three-game series Friday.
Catcher Hayden Senger was optioned to Syracuse along with Senga. On Thursday, right-handed reliever Reed Garrett was sent on a rehab assignment to Double-A Binghamton.
Information from ESPN’s Jorge Castillo and The Associated Press was used in this report.
