PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. – On a 78-degree Friday evening at Clover Park, the New York Mets and St. Louis Cardinals played to a 3-3 tie in Grapefruit League action.
Japanese right-hander Kodai Senga made his second start of the spring as he continues preparing for the 2025 season. The 32-year-old, born in Gamagori, Aichi, Japan, is entering his third year with the Mets after signing a five-year, $75 million contract on Dec. 17, 2022.
Before coming to Major League Baseball, Senga spent 11 seasons in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball, pitching for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks from 2012 to 2022.
Senga is part of the Mets’ rotation competition, vying for a spot alongside Clay Holmes, Sean Manaea, Paul Blackburn, Griffin Canning, Frankie Montas, David Peterson, and Tylor Megill.
The Mets, now 8-10-2 this spring, will continue their Grapefruit League schedule on Saturday, March 15, against the Washington Nationals at Cacti Park of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach, Fla. They will take the field at 6:05 p.m. EDT.
According to Baseball Savant, Senga uses a six-pitch arsenal. His four-seam fastball accounts for 39.7 percent of his pitches with 29 thrown. His forkball makes up 32.9 percent with 24 pitches, followed by his cutter at 16.4 percent with 12 pitches, his sweeper at 6.8 percent with five pitches, and his slider at 2.7 percent.
Senga needed only seven pitches in the first inning, throwing six fastballs and one slider while recording four strikes.
In the second inning, he threw 16 pitches, landing eight for strikes. He mixed his breaking pitches effectively, using five sweepers, one cutter, and one forkball.
In the third inning, Senga surrendered a two-run home run to Cardinals catcher Yohel Pozo on the sixth pitch of the at-bat. The 356-foot shot to left-center came off an 83.7 mph sweeper.
With no outs in the third inning, Michael Helman led off with a double off Senga and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Yohel Pozo followed with a two-run home run to left-center field, a 356-foot shot off an 83.7 mph sweeper, giving St. Louis a 2-1 lead.
Senga rebounded by striking out Victor Scott II on an ABS challenge, which upheld the call as the pitch caught the lower outside corner.
After the strikeout, José Fermín lined a single to right field, prompting Mendoza to pull Senga with one out and a runner on first. Carlos Guzman took over in relief and finished the inning by striking out José Barrero and inducing a lineout from Nolan Gorman.
In a rare spring training move, Senga returned to the mound to start the fourth inning. He gave up a leadoff single to Luken Baker, then allowed a double to Matt Koperniak, putting runners on second and third with no outs.
Senga escaped the jam without allowing a run. Ryan Vilade flied out to right, Michael Helman popped out to second, and Pozo popped out to the catcher in foul territory to end the inning.
His outing officially ended after 3.1 innings, allowing seven hits, two earned runs, and one strikeout on 53 pitches, 30 for strikes. Reed Garrett took over in the fifth.
Before the game, Mendoza announced Clay Holmes as the Mets’ Opening Day starter. Holmes will face the Houston Astros on March 27 at 4:10 p.m. EDT.
Carlos Mendoza speaks about Clay Holmes earning the Opening Day starter job 💪 pic.twitter.com/ve5kBJJ8kX
— New York Mets (@Mets) March 14, 2025
Clay Holmes last started a game on Sept. 30, 2018, for the Pittsburgh Pirates against the Cincinnati Reds. He threw four innings, allowing three hits, two earned runs, and one home run, while walking four and striking out three. He finished with 66 pitches, 33 for strikes.
That season, Holmes split time between the rotation and bullpen, pitching 26.1 innings with a 1-3 record and a 6.84 ERA in 11 appearances, including four starts. He allowed 30 hits, 20 earned runs, two home runs, 23 walks, and 21 strikeouts, finishing with a 2.013 WHIP before converting to a full-time reliever.
In 2024, Holmes served as the Yankees’ closer, posting a 3.14 ERA with a 3-5 record over 67 appearances. He recorded 30 saves, throwing 63 innings while allowing 60 hits, 22 earned runs, four home runs, and 22 walks. He struck out 68 and finished with a 1.302 WHIP.
During the 2024 postseason, Holmes appeared in 13 games, helping the Yankees win their 41st American League pennant. He posted a 3-1 record with a 2.25 ERA and threw 12 innings, allowing eight hits, three earned runs, and one home run. He walked five, struck out 12, and held opponents to a .200 batting average.
Over seven major league seasons, Holmes has compiled a 4.3 WAR with a 24-22 record and a 3.71 ERA in 311 appearances, including four starts. He has 74 career saves, throwing 337.1 innings while allowing 286 hits, 139 earned runs, 20 home runs, and 153 walks. He has recorded 360 strikeouts and carries a 1.301 WHIP.
Top International Performances in Mets-Cardinals Matchup from Clover Park on March 14
Bottom 1st – Juan Soto launched his fourth home run of the spring, a 396-foot shot to right-center off Cardinals starter Michael McGreevy, putting the Mets ahead 1-0.
Don't show this to the guy in the green shirt. pic.twitter.com/NuWx0kFqGl
— New York Mets (@Mets) March 14, 2025
Top 3rd – Yohel Pozo answered with a two-run home run off Kodai Senga, sending an 83.7 mph sweeper 356 feet to left-center, giving the Cardinals a 2-1 lead.
Bottom 6th – Francisco Lindor doubled to center, then scored when Soto singled to right field, cutting the deficit to 3-2.
Top 7th – Joey Meneses singled on a ground ball to second, putting a runner on for New York. Moments later, Pozo threw out José Siri attempting to steal third, halting the Mets’ momentum.
Bottom 8th – José Azocar manufactured the game-tying run, reaching on a single to second base, stealing second, advancing to third on a throwing error, and scoring on a wild pitch by Roddery Muñoz, making it 3-3.
The game ended in a tie after nine innings.
The Mets, now 8-10-2 this spring, continue their Grapefruit League schedule on Saturday, March 15, against the Washington Nationals at Cacti Park of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach, Fla. First pitch is set for 6:05 p.m. EDT.
Photo: New York Mets pitcher Kodai Senga signs autographs during a spring training baseball practice Monday, Feb. 17, 2025, in Port St. Lucie, Fla. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
