Mets Kodai Senga sharp in one-inning rehab start

Kodai Senga threw one scoreless inning while walking one and striking out two on 15 pitches with Triple-A Syracuse.The righty, who is recovering from a left calf strain, did not throw a second inning perhaps because the Syracuse offense scored eight runs in a lengthy bottom of the first.It was Senga’s first and possibly only rehab start.He could make a major league return, likely as an opener, for the final series of the season in Milwaukee.J.D.

Martinez, one of the best lefty-killers of the past decade, sat for a second time in four games against an opposing southpaw.Martinez is 0-for-29 in his past eight games, his OPS plunging to .726, and was replaced at designated hitter by Starling Marte.Manager Carlos Mendoza called the decision a “combination of a lot of things,” and an afternoon game that followed a night game played a role.But the biggest factor involved Martinez, a hired slugger, not slugging.“He’s going through a tough stretch, and it’s hard,” Mendoza said of the 37-year-old.

“But we also got some other players that are performing and playing well.”Martinez also watched from the dugout Wednesday, when the Mets teed off against Washington lefty DJ Herz.Martinez owns a career .946 OPS against southpaws, feasting on them regularly since his breakout season in 2014 with the Tigers.But rarely has Martinez struggled like this, a rare ineffective bat in a lineup that has mostly come alive this month.

Marte, who batted second, entered play with an .880 OPS against lefties this season before going 0-for-3 with two walks.Despite the absence, Martinez has mostly continued to play despite his slide, and Mendoza suggested that will continue.“He’s a really good hitter, he’s a professional hitter,” Mendoza said.“It’s not the first time he’s been through a slump like this.

He will continue to grind.He will continue to work on his mechanics.

He’ll step up — he’s too good of a hitter.”If the Mets do not adjust their rotation, i...