Miami Marlins knows that Sandy Alcantara is back and shows hints about her old self after an injured season 2024.
Mets hope they start to find out the same about Kodai Senga on Tuesday night, when Senga takes Haugen when New York visits Miami in the center game in a three-game series between the National League East Rival.
Senga (1-0, 3.38 ERA 2024) will make his season debut when he opposes Alcantara (0-0, 3.86 era).
Mets met four homers in a 10-4 victory over Marlins on Monday, when Pete Alonsos Grand Slam ran a seven-run fifth round.
David Peterson threw six solid inings of two-run ball for Mets, whose starter has compiled a 2.95 era through four matches. But the potential factor in the rotation is Senga, which looked like an ace when he ended up in second place in the NL beginner for this year’s vote and seventh in the NL Cy Young Award race after going 12-7 with a 2.98 era and 202 strikeouts 2023.
Senga only made one regular season look last year. He was diagnosed with a right shoulder strain shortly after reporting to spring training, and when he finally returned to Atlanta Braves on July 26, he strained his left calf as he came out of the way of an infield pop.
The 32-year-old native in Japan returned for the season, when he went 0-1 with a 12.60 in three matches (two starts) covering five rounds. Senga had a normal season and went 1-0 with a 2.00 era and nine strikes over nine rounds during three grapefruit League starts.
Senga also seemed more involved with teammates and employees, most of whom rarely saw him while scratching last season.
“He is on assignment,” said Mets Manager Carlos Mendoza during spring training. “This is a guy who wants to stay healthy because of what he went through last year. He knows he is a big part of this team and I see a guy who has fun.
“Last year he went down early and it was frustrating for him. Now you can see a smile in the face.”
Alcantara’s first great league look for more than 18 months generated lots of smiles among marlins on Thursday. He did not fact in the decision after giving up two runs over 4 2/3 rounds in Miami’s 5-4 opening day victory over Pittsburgh Pirates. He went four and knocked out seven.
Alcantara, who won the 2022 NL Cy Young Award and ranked second in Majors with 858 1/3 rounds from 2019 to 2023, received a right UCL pollution on September 3, 2023 and underwent Tommy John -operation a month later. He did not beat at all last season but did not allow a hit Thursday until Ke’bryan Hayes singled with two outs in the fifth.
“A little nervous – a lot of emotions out there,” Alcantara said. “I was close to crying, but I’m hard to (few) to cry. But I’m fine. Finally I’m back on a big-league-high.
“I feel very happy about myself and the journey and all the sacrifices I did to be back and healthy.”
Senga was 3-0 with a 2.42 era in four starts against marlins, all 2023. Alcantara is 3-5 with a 3.07 era in 15 career start against Mets.
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