Kodai Senga allowed two hits and three runs with two walks and four strikeouts across four-plus innings in a loss to the Marlins on Friday.
Senga cruised early, but hit a wall in the fifth of this one. Up until that point, he hadn’t walked a batter, threw a first-pitch strike to 11 of the 13 he faced, and only needed 33 pitches to get through four innings. That’s remarkable efficiency for anyone who’s watched Senga pitch this season. His cutter had some extra life and he was not afraid to attack hitters in the zone. Then, in that fifth inning, he walked the first two batters he faced and was pulled after a double brought a run home. Both of the runners he left on base came around to score, soiling his final line. Still, this was a fine outing all things considered, especially because Senga was thrust into action in place of Freddy Peralta as trade rumors swirl. If Senga gets another turn in the rotation, it will come next week against the Pirates.
