Mets Notes: Polanco's Defense, Senga's 2026 Role Unclear

FLUSHING, NY - The Mets are peaking at the perfect moment, and two storylines fuel this September surge: Jorge Polanco’s stunning defensive reinvention and Kodai Senga’s refusal to be anything less than a star. October looms. The front office has decisions ahead. But right now? It’s all about riding this wave.

The Polanco Project: A Defensive Rebirth at Second Base

Jorge Polanco’s Mets tenure looked shaky just weeks ago. A brutal early-August stretch at the hot corner cratered his glove work to -4 Defensive Runs Saved, prompting a decisive pivot from the front office. They shifted him to second base. The results? Transformative doesn’t begin to cover it.

Since August 20, Polanco has started 10 of 12 games at the keystone, posting an errorless streak with a stellar 4.2 UZR/150. This isn't a hot streak. It's a positional identity crisis solved. The Mets appear to have found a permanent home for his glove - and his bat is thriving on the stability.

The move isn't merely about avoiding mistakes at third. It's about unlocking a middle-infield combo that can anchor a playoff defense. Polanco's range at second has been eye-opening, turning would-be singles into outs and giving the pitching staff a reliable safety net up the middle. For a team with World Series aspirations, that defensive floor is invaluable. It’s also a testament to Polanco’s willingness to embrace the shift - a veteran swallowing pride for the good of the ballclub.

More Than a Glove: Polanco's Bat is the Real Prize

The defensive resurgence grabs headlines, but the offensive output makes this a long-term win. Polanco slashes a robust .271 with 18 homers and 62 RBIs, good for a 118 wRC+. That figure ranks best among all Mets middle infielders since the All-Star break. Team insiders now buzz that the front office views Polanco not as a utility piece, but as a foundational starter at second base moving forward. He’s delivering elite production at a premium offensive position, flipping a potential liability into a legitimate cornerstone.

📊 118 wRC+ - Best among Mets middle infielders since the All-Star break; Polanco is providing elite offensive production at a premium defensive position.

This isn’t just a guy getting hot. This is a player who found his footing at exactly the right moment, and the Mets are reaping rewards. With power, plate discipline, and now a reliable glove at a new position, Polanco has morphed from question mark into definitive answer.

Senga's Starting Stance: Locked In for the Stretch Run

Forget the bullpen chatter. Manager Carlos Mendoza ended the speculation on September 2, confirming Kodai Senga stays in the starting rotation for the remainder of the regular season. He’s penciled in for a critical start against the Phillies on September 5. The decision follows a wave of whispers suggesting a relief shift to manage innings. But Senga made the starting argument impossible to ignore with recent dominance. Over his last three outings, he posted a microscopic 2.08 ERA, racking up 21 strikeouts across 17.1 innings.

The most encouraging sign for Mets fans? The velocity spike. After concerning July dips, when his fastball averaged just 94.8 mph, Senga has rebounded to 96.1 mph over his last few starts. That puts to bed lingering questions about conditioning or arm strength as September arrives. He looks like the ace the Mets envisioned when they signed him - and he’s peaking precisely when a postseason push demands it.

📊 96.1 mph - Senga's average fastball velocity over his last few starts, a significant rebound from 94.8 mph in July, silencing conditioning concerns.