Kodai Senga Allowed Just Four Hits in His First Start and Still Got Shelled 3-0, Now He Faces Logan Webb

Here's what's wild: Kodai Senga threw six innings of dominant baseball against St. Louis on Tuesday, giving up only four hits and two runs while striking out nine, and still walked out of the ballpark with an L on his record. No run support. Zero. That's the kind of start that would make any pitcher lose his mind, but Senga is using it as fuel instead.

The Mets are about to send him back out there Sunday to face the Giants and continue what has been a straight-up pitching clinic. New York has already won two of the first three games in this series, and it hasn't even been close. The Mets' starters, Nolan McLean and Clay Holmes, have been absolutely suffocating the Giants, combining for 10-3 and 9-0 wins while limiting San Francisco to one earned run and four hits across 12 and a third innings. That's elite-level stuff.

Senga's Confidence is Back, and His Coaches Are Noticing

Senga battled through injuries all last year during a 7-6 campaign, but pitching coach Justin Willard is seeing flashes of that 2023 All-Star form that made everyone believe in him. "This guy wants to be great," Willard told reporters. "He wants to be the best pitcher in baseball." That's not coach-speak hyperbole, either. After his gutsy six-inning performance against the Cards, Senga himself said, "It was a great start to the year. It makes me excited for this year. It felt like I'm a starting pitcher again."

The one caveat: Senga has historically struggled hard against the Giants. In three career starts facing San Francisco, he's been roughed up for 14 hits and 11 runs across 14 innings while walking 12 batters. His ERA in those matchups sits at 7.07. That's a red flag.

The Giants Are Fighting Themselves as Much as the Mets

San Francisco is crumbling in both the field and at the plate right now. Manager Tony Vitello was blunt after Saturday's loss, saying there were "too many innings where there are four outs that have to be recorded." He acknowledged the Mets have been swinging the bat well, but the real problem is on defense. "Our defense, we can certainly do better," he said.

Webb (1-1, 7.36 ERA) gets the start for the Giants on Sunday. He had a rough Opening Day outing against the Yankees, giving up seven runs in five innings in a 7-0 loss, but bounced back Tuesday against San Diego with three hits and three runs allowed over six innings in a 9-3 road win. He's 3-2 lifetime against the Mets with a 3.21 ERA in seven starts.

The Mets will likely be without Juan Soto, who felt tightness in his right calf Friday. But Tyrone Taylor stepped up big as a pinch hitter Saturday with a game-breaking three-run homer and finished with four RBIs. New York racked up 27 total hits over the last two games. That's the kind of depth and firepower that wins series.

First pitch Sunday in San Francisco. This is Senga's chance to prove those injuries are in the rearview.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.