Mets Demote Ace Senga, Promote Prospects Amid Playoff Push

The New York Mets have demoted former All-Star pitcher Kodai Senga to Triple-A Syracuse amid a playoff push, hoping to allow him to regain his form after struggling through a 6.56 ERA in his last eight starts following a hamstring injury. Senga, who previously posted a sterling 1.47 ERA before his injury, acknowledged physical limitations impacting his performance, leading the Mets to temporarily replace him in the rotation with promising pitching prospect Brandon Sproat, who will make his MLB debut. Sproat, along with fellow young pitchers Nolan McLean and Jonah Tong, has shown strong potential, providing fresh energy to an unstable Mets rotation affected by injuries and inconsistent play. The Mets' bullpen also faces challenges, prompting the acquisition of veteran reliever Wander Suero to bolster late-inning pitching behind Edwin Diaz and Ryan Helsley. Overall, the team is relying on a mix of young talent and strategic moves to solidify their pitching staff as they aim for a postseason run. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza expressed optimism about the contributions of the young pitchers stepping into key roles.