Reese Kaplan -- A Wholly Unexpected Pleasant NY Mets Surprise

If you took a poll of Mets fans and writers sometime around mid April when the wheels first fell off the wagon and asked what would be the most unexpected positive developments for the team, there would be quite a few hits and misses. 

On the latter, let’s think a minute about the bullpen and how it has devolved during the 2026 season.  While most people were highly positive about setup pieces including Luke Weaver, A.J. Minter, Brooks Raley and to a lesser extent Huascar Brazoban, no one other than David Stearns was 100% on the Devin Williams bandwagon.  The initial thought was he would be part of a monster duo at the end of games alongside Edwin Diaz, but when the former Fireman of the Year took his powerful arm across the country to Los Angeles, it suddenly fell upon the former star closer from the Brewers to take over that role for the Mets.

Unfortunately everyone is fully aware of Williams’ struggles in the Bronx last season, finishing the 2025 season with a 4.79 ERA and 18 saves across 67 games.  That output was not what the Yankees had in mind and despite his many struggles, his Mets numbers are actually better.  When he went down with injury he was holding a 4.66 ERA with 16 saves across just 42 games.  Where Williams was better across town was in his WHIP but everything else favors the Mets though not at the level the POBO expected.

However, the biggest surprise after the August trading deadline clean sweep of the bullpen was the fact that horrifically struggling starting pitcher Kodai Senga was told he was going to be reporting to the bullpen, ostensibly in the 8th inning setup role for Williams.  Then came the injury to the former Yankees/Brewers closer and all of the sudden the least treasured member of the Mets pitching staff was suddenly thrust into prime time as the closer for the boys in orange and blue.

So how has he done?  Let’s push aside his recent 9th inning losing home run for the moment and look at the numbers prior to that happening.  Since early August he was throwing to the tune of a 1.29 ERA since joining the relief corps.  Add in this one poor loss and he’s still able to show a 2.45 ERA working at the end of games. 

So take a poll among your friends and ask them if they had any faith at all in Senga as a pitcher, starter or reliever, or envisioned he could become dominant in his new role?  Would there be a single person (other than me in an article earlier in the season) who suggested Senga could thrive in the pen much like other starters turned relievers have done in the past.  I certainly don’t have an Edwin Diaz, Jesse Orosco, Tug McGraw nor even a Neil Allen level of confidence when Senga enters a game, but it’s surely a totally unforeseen positive development that virtually no one saw coming. 

Some people are already making some noise about Senga returning as the Mets closer next season with Williams returning to the setup role originally envisioned for him.  Others think what’s happening now is because the games don’t count towards contention and it’s a matter of being done with mirrors other than sheer ability.  Certainly Williams has a much longer positive track record of productivity in that role than does converted starter Senga, but at this point both are under Mets contracts for next season and roles need to be decided. 

For now, just enjoy it while you can.