Senga Shines in Spring Training, Boosts Mets Rotation

0:00It's March 20th. Here's your New York meds news in two minutes. Subscribe to stay locked in all season. Kodai Sangha made his third spring training start for the meds on Thursday night against the Astros. He delivered four scoreless innings in a 6-2 win, giving up just three hits and one walk. While his fastball command varied, he scattered the damage and kept Houston's main lineup off the board. The right-hander touched 97.3 miles per hour with his fastball and has reached 99 this spring. His slider and sweeper looked sharp, helping him grind through despite some location problems. It's a step forward after a debut, where he allowed two runs in two and two-thirds innings. Manager Carlos Mendoza praised Sangha's early form, saying he's close to peak level already. Unlike last year, when it took until late April, teammate Juan Soto called him the team's ace if he stays healthy. Sangha himself stressed his improved health, both physical and mental after an injury-filled previous season.

1:00Since that first outing, Sangha has thrown seven scoreless innings across his next two starts, striking out nine batters total. Last spring, he didn't hit this stride until deeper into the schedule, but now his velocity and pitch movement stand out right away. With one more star before the regular season, Sangha's progress bolsters the meds rotation's potential. If he builds on this, New York could have a real weapon at the top.