The New York Mets have had a difficult time this season, with an unexpected 41-46 record and occupying fourth place in the NL East.
They have encountered all kinds of problems ranging from starting pitchers not performing as expected, injuries, suspensions, and many others.
But it’s also true that the team has been playing better in recent games.
In fact, they are undefeated in July, with a 5-0 record.
Their most recent two games have yielded excellent performances from rather unexpected sources.
On Wednesday, Kodai Senga allowed just one run in eight innings, with 12 strikeouts and a win to his name.
Senga dominating is not that shocking, since his ERA has been in the 3.00s for a while.
On Thursday, however, the Mets got an encouraging start from Carlos Carrasco.
“Cookie” blanked the Arizona Diamondbacks for eight innings, with just three hits and no walks conceded.
He also struck out four on his way to a win.
Senga and Carrasco combined to match a record that was almost eight years old.
“Kodai Senga & Carlos Carrasco each went 8 innings in the Mets’ last 2 games. This is the first time the Mets have had starters go 8+ IP in back-to-back team games since Aug 2-3, 2015, when Noah Syndergaard + Bartolo Colon did so,” MLB stats expert Sarah Langs tweeted.
Kodai Senga & Carlos Carrasco each went 8 innings in the Mets’ last 2 games
this is the first time the Mets have had starters go 8+ IP in back-to-back team games since Aug 2-3, 2015, when Noah Syndergaard + Bartolo Colon did so
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) July 7, 2023
The Mets employ Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander, who have multiple Cy Young awards between them.
One would have expected at least one of them to match the 2015 mark, but that wasn’t the case.
Both are healthy and pitching well, though, and so are Senga, Carrasco, and David Peterson.
The Mets rotation is, at long last, rounding into form.
NEXT: The Mets Own A Surprising 2023 Mark
