NY Mets rotation: 1 player running out of chances, 1 we can still trust, 1 we can't

Remember the old playground game of “love, marry, leave”? The New York Mets rotation is starting to feel a lot like that impossible choice. Some arms make you swoon, full of promise and consistency. Others make you wince, leaving fans questioning every pitch. And then there’s the one hanging on to a final start to prove his role in the rotation still belongs to him. With recent struggles shaking up the staff, figuring out who you can trust, who’s testing patience, and who gets one more shot has never felt more urgent.

One more chance: Sean Manaea

Sean Manaea’s season has felt more like a slow reboot than a smooth ride. After missing months with an oblique injury and a loose body in his elbow, he didn’t even make his first start until mid-July. Since then, the results have looked rough: a 5.01 ERA across nine starts, with only one outing lasting beyond the fifth inning. For a Mets rotation already stretched thin, those numbers don’t exactly inspire a whole lot of faith.

But dig a little deeper, and the story isn’t as grim. Manaea’s expected ERA sits at a far more respectable 3.76, and his strikeout and walk rates put him among the league’s elite—top 10% in punchouts and top 4% in limiting free passes. Add in solid chase, whiff, and hard-hit percentages, and the ingredients for success are sitting there. The Mets know what he did last year, carrying them into October, and those flashes of underlying strength have earned him one more chance to prove his spot in the rotation.

Trust: David Peterson

David Peterson’s August ERA looks alarming—6.68, capped by a Saturday meltdown against the Marlins when he gave up eight runs in just over two innings. It was a rough outing when the Mets needed someone to steady the ship, and the numbers made it easy to question his consistency. But even with the bad start, Peterson has been the team’s bright spot, the pitcher fans can genuinely rely on.

Look closer, and his value becomes clear. Four of his six August starts went at least five innings, including a gem against Washington on August 19: eight innings, one run allowed, and ten strikeouts. While others in the rotation have struggled, Peterson has consistently given the Mets length and steadiness, proving he’s the dependable arm the team counts on when things go sideways.

Can’t trust: Kodai Senga

Kodai Senga started the season looking like the anchor the Mets had been waiting for, but a hamstring strain in early June derailed that momentum. Since returning on July 11, Senga has posted a 5.90 ERA, allowing 24 walks and 43 hits in just 39.2 innings. Six of his eight starts have lasted fewer than five innings, forcing the bullpen into overdrive and leaving fans frustrated with his inconsistency.

After another poor outing in Sunday’s game, the Mets have already hinted that conversations about Senga’s role are on the horizon. Once a reliable piece of the rotation, he’s struggled to regain form, and both management and fans know they can no longer count on him to deliver quality starts. Until he proves otherwise, trust is something Senga simply hasn’t earned back.