Senga Benched, Cubs Win
Cubs Defeat Mets 9-6; Senga Shifts to Bullpen Amidst Mounting Injuries for Both Teams
Key Points
Francisco Lindor is expected to return from the injured list on Wednesday, providing a boost for the Mets as they head into the day-night doubleheader with the Cubs.
Pete Crow-Armstrong is having a power-speed breakout this year, entering with 17 homers and 18 stolen bases, and he carries a career-best 24-game on-base streak dating back to May 26.
Dansby Swanson has shown improvement, riding a four-game hitting streak with a .429/.500/1.000 line over 6-for-14 in his last four games, including two doubles and two home runs with no strikeouts.
Edward Cabrera left the game with a left hamstring/adductor strain after five innings.
The Chicago Cubs beat the New York Mets 9-6 on Tuesday night at Citi Field, and the bigger news came the next morning. The Mets announced they are moving starter Kodai Senga to the bullpen after he posted a 10.08 ERA across seven starts — the worst by a Mets pitcher through seven starts in franchise history, according to Reuters.
Mets President of Baseball Operations David Stearns did not mince words. "Performance matters here," Stearns said. "Having outings like this are not going to cut it. We need better." The warning landed as the Mets sit 10 games under .500, last in the NL East, and now 0-4 against Chicago this season.
Senga's Fall From Ace to Bullpen Role
Senga came to the Mets as a prize signing — a $75 million deal built on a devastating ghost forkball. But injuries have derailed him. He has battled lumbar spine inflammation and ulnar nerve irritation in his right forearm throughout 2026, according to Newsday. The results: 22 walks, 9 home runs, and a 16.4% walk rate — all career-highs — across just 27.2 innings.
Manager Carlos Mendoza framed the move as a reset, not a goodbye. "You'll pitch an inning, you have to be ready to go the next day," Mendoza said. "He's one of those guys now in the bullpen." Mendoza added the role could include multi-inning or high-leverage spots. But analysts at Newsday called it a "mop-up" assignment and described Senga as a "roster nightmare" owed $15 million in 2027.
Cubs' Five-Run Second Inning Buried the Mets Early
The Cubs wasted no time. In the second inning, they sent nine batters to the plate and scored five runs against Senga. Pete Crow-Armstrong capped the burst with a three-run homer — his 17th of the year. Crow-Armstrong is on a 24-game on-base streak dating back to May 26, hitting .410 with 11 home runs during that stretch, per the Associated Press.
Dansby Swanson did the rest of the damage. The Cubs shortstop finished 2-for-3 with a homer and four RBIs. He entered the game riding a four-game hitting streak with a .429 average over that span, including two doubles and two home runs — with zero strikeouts, according to ABC7 Chicago.
Two More Injuries Cloud an Already Troubled Series
The game produced more bad news beyond the scoreboard. Cubs starter Edward Cabrera left in the fifth inning after suffering a left hamstring and adductor strain while stretching for a throw at first base. The Cubs placed him on the 15-day injured list Wednesday. Manager Craig Counsell, who was also ejected Tuesday for arguing a replay reversal, called the pitching situation a "puzzle."
Mets slugger Juan Soto also exited with back tightness. Manager Mendoza has not ruled out an IL stint pending further imaging, according to The Washington Post. Soto holds a 15-year, $765 million contract — the largest in baseball history. Losing him, even briefly, would gut an already struggling lineup.
Lindor's Return Offers Mets a Slim Wednesday Lifeline
The Mets and Cubs meet again Wednesday in a day-night doubleheader at Citi Field. The Mets get one piece of good news: Francisco Lindor is expected to be activated for Game 2. The team has gone 26-28 without him since late April. His return gives the Mets a genuine boost at shortstop — a position that has been a weakness all season.
For the Cubs, Matthew Boyd is expected to be activated Thursday to help fill the rotation void left by Cabrera. Chicago already has six starters on the injured list, including Ben Brown, Jameson Taillon, and Justin Steele, per Reuters. Both clubs enter Wednesday banged up — but the Mets, with a historic payroll and a last-place record, have far more at stake.
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