Here are five things to watch when the Mets and Giants play a four-game series in San Francisco starting on Thursday…
Senga’s first two big league starts — both against the Miami Marlins — were spectacular, with him allowing just one run in each outing and a total of six hits over 11.1 innings as he struck out 14.
His most recent start was different.
Facing the Athletics in Oakland, Senga came out firing, and his stuff was still devastating at times as he struck out seven. But he lasted just 4.2 innings while allowing four runs on seven hits (including two home runs) and walking four.
It seems likely that part of Senga’s struggles were due to the amount of time he spent sitting between innings in a game where the Mets drew 17 walks and scored 17 runs. At one point, Senga started warming up in the bullpen while the Mets were batting.
Baty has started two of the three games he’s been here for since being called up from Triple-A Syracuse, with his only time out of the lineup coming against a left-hander Clayton Kershaw.
If the Mets held Baty out because of the combination of it being his second game back and the legendary left-hander being on the mound, fine. But he should not be sitting regularly against southpaws.
Baty was solid against lefties in the minors, slugging .486 against them in 2022 after slugging .442 against them in 2021.
If the Mets had a right-handed hitting option who could mash lefties, this might be a different story. But their current right-handed third base option is switch-hitting Eduardo Escobarwho is slashing .120/.167/.220 in 55 plate appearances this season.
Old friends
Michael Conforto has been dealing with a calf injury, but returned on Wednesday. So there’s a strong chance he’ll play against the Mets, which would be his first time facing them since leaving after the 2021 season and missing the entire 2022 campaign due to injury.
And there are plenty of familiar faces on the Giants’ roster in addition to Conforto.
That includes Darin Ruf and JD Davis (who was traded to San Francisco along with three players last season for Ruf). It also includes Wilmer Flores. Davis has been excelling this season, entering play Wednesday with four homers and a 1.022 OPS.
Since being released by the Mets and joining the Giants, Ruf has four hits in 15 at-bats and is slashing .267/.389/.400.
How will the Mets’ rotation be cobbled together?
With Carlos Carrasco landing on the IL due to elbow inflammation, the Mets will have to find a way to fill his slot on Friday night.
Their most obvious options are Joey Lucchesi and Jose Buttowho are both with Syracuse.
Lucchesi, who missed the entire 2022 season due to Tommy John surgery, had a 4.46 ERA and 1.17 WHIP in 11 games (eight starts, three relief appearances) for the Mets in 2021.
After Senga pitches on Thursday and the Mets find someone to fill in on Friday, David Peterson and Taylor Megill will start the final two games of the series.
Will Logan Webb’s struggles continue?
Webb has not pitched well in his first four starts, allowing four runs in each outing — although he was charged with just one earned run during his start on April 10 against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
As Webb has struggled to find his footing, he’s served up five homers.
Webb’s peripherals have been very good, though, with him having 28 strikeouts (including 12 in six innings in his first start) to just three walks.