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New York Mets starting pitcher Kodai Senga talks to teammates during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Kodai Senga is already etching his name in places not many other Mets pitchers have gone before — which is quite a feat considering the franchise’s track record of churning out top-tier pitching talent over the last seven decades.
The 30-year-old right-hander was masterful yet again on Thursday evening at Citi Field, going six scoreless innings while allowing just two hits with 10 strikeouts, lowering his 2023 season ERA — his first-ever season in the majors after making the jump from Japan — to a tidy 2.95.
As it stands, only two other qualified pitchers in the National League have an ERA under 3.00: Blake Snell of the San Diego Padres (2.43) and Justin Steele of the Chicago Cubs (2.49).
Among rookie starting pitchers in all of baseball, he leads in WAR (4.1), ERA, and strikeouts (191). Not only is he on the verge of becoming the seventh pitcher in the majors this season to record 200 strikeouts, he also could become just the 14th pitcher post-deadball era (1920) to hit that benchmark of punchouts.
“He’s got to be thought about,” Mets manager Buck Showalter said of considering Senga for both the Cy Young and Rookie of the Year. “He’s got to be somebody that’s in the discussion. He’s certainly been doing his part… He’s been this way from the get-go. He’s grounded and doesn’t take himself too seriously and he’s focused and very driven. He’s been a great addition. That’s a good signing by our guys.”
While Senga has an outside shot of winning the Cy Young given the seasons that Snell, Steele, and even Arizona Diamondbacks ace Zac Gallen — who the Mets thumped on Wednesday night — are having, the Rookie of the…
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