Morning Briefing: Kodai Senga Preparing to Face Hitters

Good morning, Mets fans!

Kodai Senga threw another bullpen on Wednesday.

“Now we’ll see how the next couple of days unfold and hopefully he’s facing hitters the next time he’s touching a mound,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. He said he expects that “next time” to be Sunday or Monday. Senga has not thrown a pitch for the Mets this season, as he has been on the 60-day IL with a shoulder capsule strain that he aggravated during spring training. 

However, on the field, the Mets faltered for the first time in over a week as their seven-game win streak finally came to an end. Despite holding the Rangers to no hits through five innings, Sean Manaea left the game after 5 2/3 IP with a 3-3 score. Pete Alonso’s sixth-inning home run would be the last of the Mets’ scoring, not being able to mount up a final comeback and losing 5-3.

The Mets have Thursday off but the Amazin’s will look to get back in the win column on Friday as they head to Chicago to take on the Cubs in a weekend series. It will be José Quintana (2-5, 4.98 ERA) going for the Mets, against Shōta Imanaga (7-1, 1.89 ERA) of the Cubs.

Latest Mets News

Right-handed pitching prospect Brandon Sproat was named the Mets prospect “most ready” to be promoted to the next level by MLB.com. Sproat has already been promoted from High-A to Double-A this season, posting a 1.52 ERA 0.78 WHIP, and 35.5% K rate in 29.2 IP since his promotion.

Mets top prospect Jett Williams hopes to make his MLB debut in 2025 after an injury riddled 2024. Click here to see what Williams’ thoughts are on his current state.

Brett Baty hit a tank last night for Triple-A Syracuse, which traveled 436 feet and raised his OPS to 1.188.

A 436-foot shot by Brett Baty for Triple-A Syracuse tonight.

His Triple-A OPS is 1.188.#Mets pic.twitter.com/ofiM7vNqpf

— Metsmerized Online (@Metsmerized) June 20, 2024

Mike Vasil gave up eight hits and two runs in five innings and Luisangel Acuña went 1-for-2 with an RBI single and two walks in the Syracuse Mets’ 8-2 win over the Rochester Red Wings. Syracuse is 18 games over .500 and first in the International League East division.

Latest MLB News

The San Francisco Giants are opening up Oracle Park to fans on Thursday to pay their respects to Willie Mays and sign a condolence book. The Giants will also be wearing a patch on their jerseys in remembrance of Willie.

In honor of Willie pic.twitter.com/WuCEjhVyVV

— SFGiants (@SFGiants) June 19, 2024

The Chicago Cubs signed former Mets catcher Tomás Nido and designated catcher Yan Gomes for assignment. Nido was DFA’d last week before being released by the Mets on Monday after 12 years with the organization.

The Los Angeles Dodgers placed RHP Walker Buehler on the injured list with right hip inflammation and activated RHP Bobby Miller from the injured list. Buehler has a 5.84 ERA in his eight starts since coming back from Tommy John surgery.

Despite his X-ray and CT scan results coming back as negative, Aaron Judge was not in the Yankees lineup last night and is considered day-to-day according to Yankees manager Aaron Boone. Judge left Tuesday night’s game after being hit in the hand.

The St. Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants will play at Rickwood Field on Thursday night at 7:15 p.m. on FOX. Rickwood Field, located in Birmingham, Alabama, is the oldest professional ballpark in the US and former home of the Negro Leagues’ Birmingham Black Barons.

Yankees ace Gerrit Cole made his first start of the season last night against the Orioles: 4 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 1 BB, 5 K.

Baltimore Orioles RHP Kyle Bradish underwent Tommy John surgery and will miss the rest of the season, per Roch Kubatko of MASN. Bradish put up a 2.75 ERA in eight starts and 39.1 IP this season. 

Orioles GM Mike Elias had more bad news yesterday, telling the media that left-handed reliever Danny Coulombe underwent a surgery to have bone chips removed from his left elbow. The hope is that the southpaw can return in September.

Latest on MMO

Willie Mays’ loss is mourned by the MLB community.

Francisco Alvarez came up clutch yet again.

Jett Williams aims for a 2025 big league call up.

On This Date in Mets History

2013: The Mets give the Braves their first series loss at home on the season as David Wright goes deep twice and Josh Satin comes up with a go-ahead double in the seventh inning.

2002: Steve Trachsel takes a perfect game into the seventh inning against the Minnesota Twins, and the Mets win 3-2 behind home runs from Mike Piazza and Edgardo Alfonzo.

1963: The Mets beat the Yankees 6-2 in the club’s first mayor’s trophy game, an annual exhibition between the two New York clubs.  

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