Two pitchers with Cy Young aspirations will meet for the first time on Sunday as right-handers Kodai Senga and Logan Webb go head-to-head to complete a four-game series between the New York Mets and the San Francisco Giants.
Series Recap and Pitching Dominance
The Mets have taken two of the first three games in a series that has seen no outcome closer than five runs. New York starters Nolan McLean and Clay Holmes have been dominant in their respective outings, leading the Mets to convincing wins of 10-3 and 9-0.
McLean and Holmes combined to limit the Giants to just one earned run and four hits over 12 1/3 innings, showcasing excellent pitching depth.
Kodai Senga’s Strong Start to the Season
Senga (0-1, 3.00 ERA) will look to continue his strong start when he takes the mound on Sunday. Despite taking a 3-0 loss in his season debut against the St. Louis Cardinals, Senga impressed with a solid performance, allowing only four hits and two runs over six innings. He struck out nine batters and got little support from his offense.
“It was a great start to the year,” Senga said after his outing. “It makes me excited for this year. It felt like I’m a starting pitcher again.”
The 33-year-old right-hander is looking to build on his 2023 All-Star form after battling injuries in a 7-6 campaign last season. Mets pitching coach Justin Willard believes Senga has the desire to be great and will do what it takes to be one of the best pitchers in baseball.
However, Senga has had his struggles against the Giants in his career. In three starts against them, he has posted a 7.07 ERA, allowing 14 hits and 11 runs in 14 innings, along with 12 walks.
Logan Webb Seeks Bounce-Back Performance
On the other side, the Giants’ Logan Webb (1-1, 7.36 ERA) is looking to bounce back after a rough Opening Day start against the New York Yankees. Webb gave up seven runs (six earned) in a 7-0 loss to the Yankees but rebounded with a solid performance against the San Diego Padres, allowing three runs over six innings in a 9-3 win.
Webb, a two-time All-Star, has a career 3.21 ERA in seven starts against the Mets, with a 3-2 record. He will hope to continue his success against the Mets and provide stability for a struggling Giants team.
Struggles for the Giants
The Giants have struggled in both the field and at the plate over the past two games. Manager Tony Vitello expressed concern about his team’s defense after Saturday’s loss, noting that too many innings were extended by defensive miscues.
“Too many innings where there are four outs that have to be recorded,” Vitello said. “They (the Mets) have done a really good job of swinging the bat, but you’d be hard-pressed to find an inning where they scored where there wasn’t the potential for the inning to be over. Our defense, we can certainly do better.”
Mets’ Injury and Roster Changes
The Mets have been without star player Juan Soto due to tightness in his right calf. He left Friday’s game in the first inning and has not played since.
On Saturday, Jared Young started in his place, before Tyrone Taylor came off the bench to hit a game-breaking three-run home run. Taylor finished with four RBIs and played a pivotal role in the Mets’ victory.
Looking Ahead
As the Mets look to win the series, Senga will aim to put together another strong performance to help his team secure the victory. Meanwhile, Webb will try to stabilize the Giants’ pitching and provide them with a chance to finish the series on a positive note.
