By Sunday 
For weeks, the Mets’ starting rotation has looked more like a patchwork quilt than a polished machine. Bullpen games, spot starts, and fingers crossed—fans were just hoping someone, anyone, could eat innings and keep the team’s postseason hopes afloat.
This weekend? The cavalry finally shows up.
Kodai Senga Is Back—and Not a Moment Too Soon
If you’ve been waiting to exhale about the Mets’ pitching woes, Kodai Senga’s return should help your lungs a bit. After a mid-June hamstring strain, the ace is back—scheduled to pitch Friday night in Kansas City.
No pitch count leash either—Senga is expected to throw up to 80 pitches. It’s a full-go, full-speed comeback.
Before his injury, Senga was in All-Star form, boasting a sparkling 1.47 ERA with 70 strikeouts in 73.2 innings. If that version of him returns? The Mets aren’t just getting a body—they’re getting a difference-maker.
Sean Manaea: The Long Wait Ends Sunday
Meanwhile, Sean Manaea is finally making his long-awaited season debut. The lefty has been sidelined since spring with oblique and elbow issues, but after a successful rehab tune-up, he’ll likely take the mound Sunday in a piggyback start with Clay Holmes.
Manaea may not be asked to go deep just yet—four innings would be a win—but even that could give the bullpen some much-needed rest. And if his mechanics and velocity look clean? That’s a major win for the back half of the rotation.
Patchwork No More
Let’s be real: the Mets rotation has been holding on with duct tape and hope. Senga and Manaea returning gives the staff some actual shape and allows relievers to catch their breath.
The timing couldn’t be better either. With the NL East tightening up and July shaping the playoff picture, these two arms might just be the tipping point between a wild-card push and a midseason fadeout.
A Defining Weekend Ahead
It’s not dramatic to say this weekend could define the Mets’ summer. If Senga is sharp and Manaea can find his rhythm, the Mets might just stabilize and start climbing again.
After all the bad luck, injuries, and improvisation—it finally feels like New York has a fighting chance again.