The New York Mets are creating a masterpiece on the mound thus far in the early MLB season. They have the top ERA in the league at a stunning 2.89 thanks to their pitching staff, which has been nothing short of spectacular, cutting through lineups with surgical accuracy. While the bullpen has done its job with quiet competence, the actual engine under the Mets’ hood is their starting rotation—a bunch that’s running more like a Formula 1 team than a baseball staff.
The Mets have a rotation ERA of 2.71, which puts them ahead of the pack like a sprinter in a marathon. With a 3.02 ERA, the Kansas City Royals, who are a solid team in their own right, come in second. On paper, it might not seem like much of a difference, but in the realm of pitching analytics, it is a canyon. It speaks to a group that has figured out a code that others are still trying to figure out.
Senga’s Symphony of Strikeouts
The Mets’ primary conductor, Kodai Senga, is at the head of this outstanding group. He moved deftly between genius and mayhem on Wednesday. Senga walked a tightrope with five free passes against the Arizona Diamondbacks, a scary team, but he managed to stay balanced. He painted the corners, used his ghost fork, and relied on his defense to win six shutout innings when it mattered most.
After that performance, his ERA dropped to an incredible 1.16, which is third best in baseball (he is now officially a qualifier for the ERA championship), behind only Max Fried and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Senga’s 35 strikeouts in 38.2 innings aren’t particularly noteworthy on their own, but when paired with his capacity to squelch runs and neutralize threats, they demonstrate a pitcher who flourishes under duress. Although his 3-2 record may appear unimpressive, victories and defeats rarely give the whole picture. Even though the ballots are still a long way off, this man is quietly running a Cy Young campaign.
The Ghost Fork Returns
Senga’s 2.98 ERA and 202 strikeouts in 2023 were a coming-out celebration, but 2024 served as a reminder of baseball’s vulnerability. He was humbled and slowed by his injuries, but they didn’t stop him. And now, in 2025, he’s back, perhaps even better than the first time.
It’s like witnessing a magician at work when Senga unleashes his phantom fork. Hitters are left swinging at air and shaking their heads as the ball falls off the table and disappears beneath their bats, even though they know it’s coming and have prepared for it. It’s the type of pitch that, like a family treasure handed down by the baseball gods, you inherit rather than merely learn.
The Mets are aware that the season will be a lengthy one, filled with highs and lows. However, they have established a foundation that is resilient enough to withstand any adversity thanks to a rotation that is playing on a different level and an ace who is rediscovering his rhythm.
