Mets Could Hand Kodai Senga Stunning New Role After Devin Williams Injury

The New York Mets suddenly have a major question to answer in the back end of their bullpen after Devin Williams was placed on the 15-day injured list with a right shoulder strain. The injury leaves New York without its established closer and could force the club to get creative with its late-inning plans. One of the most intriguing possibilities is Kodai Senga.

Williams has recorded 16 saves for the Mets this season, but his absence comes at an especially difficult time for a bullpen that has already lost several important arms. New York recalled right-hander Jonathan Pintaro from Triple-A Syracuse to fill Williams’ roster spot, but the bigger question is who will handle the most important innings while the veteran closer is sidelined.

Senga has emerged as a fascinating candidate because his role had already changed earlier this season. After struggling as a starter, the Mets moved him into the bullpen in June, giving the club an opportunity to use his stuff in shorter appearances. Manager Carlos Mendoza said at the time that Senga’s specific bullpen role would be determined by how games unfolded, including the possibility of a higher-leverage assignment.

That possibility has now become much more significant.

With Williams unavailable, Senga could be asked to handle some of the biggest moments of games. In fact, he recently recorded the first save of his Major League career in an 8-5 victory over the Atlanta Braves. The Mets did not necessarily declare him their permanent closer, but the performance demonstrated that Senga can handle a late-inning assignment when the situation demands it.

The move would represent a remarkable change for Senga. Not long ago, the Mets were hoping he could rediscover his form as a starting pitcher. Instead, the club has gradually shifted toward using him as a reliever, where his ability to attack hitters with premium velocity and his distinctive forkball can potentially become even more dangerous in shorter outings.

There are still reasons for the Mets to remain cautious. Senga has dealt with injuries this season, and transitioning him into a full-time ninth-inning role could require careful management of his workload. The Mets also have other bullpen options, meaning they do not necessarily have to rely on one pitcher to replace everything Williams provided.

That could lead to a closer-by-committee approach, with Senga receiving the most difficult matchups rather than automatically entering every ninth inning. The Mets’ interim manager, Andy Green, has indicated that the late-inning situation will remain flexible.

Still, Senga’s emergence could give New York an unexpected solution at a crucial point in the season. If he continues to succeed in high-leverage situations, the Mets could discover that their best answer to the Williams injury was already on their roster.

For Senga, meanwhile, this could become one of the most important stretches of his Mets career. A successful transition from starter to high-leverage reliever would give the team another weapon while potentially reshaping how it views his role moving forward.

The Mets did not plan for Williams to miss time, but injuries often create opportunities for other players. Senga now has one of the biggest opportunities of his season—and his performance in the coming games could determine whether this temporary experiment becomes something much bigger.