5-13-2025 – By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on X
Following a close game last night that had a number of photo finishes, Pittsburgh will pivot to their next matchup. Unfortunately for them, it’s not an easy one with Kodai Senga taking the ball for the Mets, following up on his picture-perfect 2023 rookie campaign and entering the day with an NL-best 1.16 ERA through his first 38.2 innings on the year.
After missing nearly all of 2024 following a moderate posterior capsule strain and then a high-grade calf strain, the 2023 All Star and Rookie of the Year runner-up has had an electric start to 2025 as he hasn’t allowed more than 6 hits or 2 runs in any of his 7 starts thus far.
Senga has an elite pitch mix, which differentiates him from many other pitchers. While he has seven distinct pitches, he will mainly rely on his mid-90s 4-seam fastball low-90s cutter and, his best weapon a ghost fork ball which ranges in velocity from 77 to 86 with some serious break.
Unsurprisingly, opposing hitters are struggling against that forkball with a 44.2% K rate coming on the pitch as 23 of his 35 strikeouts have come against the offering.
His other pitches have been far less effective, specifically his fastballs, against which lefties are batting .405 and slugging .619.
If the Bucs can see the spin (or lack of spin, really) on that forkball and focus only on his fastball, they might have a chance against him.
Then again, with how the offense has been stumbling, they’ll need some pixel-perfect moments to find success today.
Steel City Pirates 