The visiting New York Mets will look to get back on track behind right-hander Kodai Senga against the surging Milwaukee Brewers on Friday in the opener of a three-game series.
Senga (7-3, 2.31 ERA) will be opposed by resurrected right-hander Brandon Woodruff (3-0, 2.22), who makes his sixth start after missing all of 2024 and the first half of this season following shoulder surgery.
The Mets lost 4-1 to Cleveland on Wednesday, during which New York was two outs away from getting no-hit. Juan Soto’s solo homer served as the only hit for the Mets, who were swept at home for the second time this season.
Meanwhile, Milwaukee held off the Braves 5-4 on Wednesday to finish a 6-0 road trip through Washington and Atlanta. The Brewers became the first team to reach 70 victories this season and moved four games ahead of the Chicago Cubs atop the National League Central.
Both the Mets and Brewers were off Thursday.
The Mets have lost eight of their last nine games — hitting just .189 over that span — to fall 2 1/2 games behind the Philadelphia Phillies in the NL East.
“We’ve got guys that have been through some stretches like this before, and they find a way to get out of it,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said following Wednesday’s loss. “And they will. They will find ways to get out of this. But obviously there’s a sense of urgency.”
Senga is 2-0 with a 3.71 ERA over his last seven starts, but he missed almost a month with a right hamstring injury before coming off the injured list in mid-July.
He did not have a decision in three starts in July, posting a 5.25 ERA with no outing longer than five innings. Senga allowed four runs over five innings in his last start and he did not get the decision in the Mets’ 12-6 comeback win over the Giants.
With 25 home runs this season, Mets slugger Pete Alonso sits at 251 career homers — one behind Darryl Strawberry for the franchise record.
Woodruff, 32, has been dominant since coming off the injured list in early July, holding opponents to a .141 batting average. He has struck out 37 and walked four in 28 1/3 innings while allowing just 14 hits.
He picked up the win in his last start, giving up two runs on one hit in six innings while striking out eight in an 8-2 victory at Washington.
“We’re playing great baseball. I’m happy to be a part of it,” Woodruff said. “It’s been a really long time for me. So, each and every time I get out there, I just try to win the game, win the day and move on from there.”
Woodruff is 18-3 with a 2.33 ERA in his last 37 starts dating back to May 2022. He is 2-1 with a 3.31 ERA in three career starts against the Mets, the last time in 2021.
Recently acquired Andrew Vaughn continued his hot start with Milwaukee with a homer and two RBIs on Wednesday, extending his hitting streak to 12 games.
Vaughn was acquired from the White Sox in mid-June for pitcher Aaron Civale. He was called up from Triple-A Nashville earlier this month when first baseman Rhys Hoskins was injured.
In 48 games with the White Sox, Vaughn hit .189 with five homers and 19 RBIs. In his first 22 games with Milwaukee, Vaughn is hitting .377 with seven homers and 28 RBIs.
–Field Level Media
