Kodai Senga attributes ‘lucky’ run as reason Mets ace sports NL-best ERA

Kodai Senga opened Friday with the best ERA in the National League and his 1.16 mark through seven starts is bettered only by the Yankees’ Max Fried’s 1.05.

But Senga isn’t interested in looking too much into his success through seven starts, in part because he doesn’t feel he deserves it.

“I look at all the numbers,” Senga said through an interpreter prior to the Mets’ 7-2 victory in the series opener against the Cubs on Friday at Citi Field. “There’s not a single number or stat I take for granted. They’re all important. But right now, my results and stats are not really reflective of what I feel I’m putting out there on the mound.”

Instead, Senga said he’s the recipient of good fortune.

“I feel like I’m getting lucky on a lot of plays,” Senga said. “I think throughout the season, if I can fill in the gap with my performance as much as possible, I can be closer to my true form.”

For instance, Senga issued a season-high five walks against the Diamondbacks on Wednesday.

Still, he managed to hold the Diamondbacks scoreless over his six innings in the win.

Senga hasn’t allowed more than two earned runs in any of his outings this season, but has also recorded an out after the sixth inning just once this year.

Whatever Senga’s disappointments may be, the Mets will take the results as he leads a rotation that tops the majors in ERA (2.71 heading into Friday) and has exceeded all expectations.

Although he’s striking out fewer batters and walking more than his rookie season two years ago, he’s also not allowing as many homers.

He’s also throwing his deadly forkball slightly more than two years ago and dominating opposing hitters even more with it.

Senga’s four-seamer has been hit harder than it was in 2023, but he’s also doing well with his newfound sinker.

But as Senga learned last season, his most important attribute this year might be his health.

He was limited to one start in the regular season and three short appearances in the playoffs.

“In terms of my health, I feel very good,” Senga said. “I’m happy I’m able to be out here after the year I had last year.”

Senga’s 2024 season was marred by a shoulder strain suffered in spring training.

In his lone regular-season appearance, Senga went down with a calf strain that sidelined him until the playoffs.

He’s confident he’ll be able to remain in one piece the rest of this year.

“I’m grateful to be out there and my brain is more tailored toward what I have to do in order to stay out on the field,’’ Senga said. “I’m very focused on keeping myself healthy and performing at a high level.”

As for his sparkling ERA in early May, Senga said he had “no thoughts on it. If this was later on in the season, maybe the last month, and I was still at the top, then I’d have different feelings on it. But one bad outing now and your ERA can skyrocket.”