Edwin Diaz gives heartfelt message to Kodai Senga as Mets ace lands on IL

Edwin Diaz and the Mets are standing behind their ace. The closer posted a heartfelt message on X after Kodai Senga went down with a hamstring strain in Thursday’s 4-3 win over the Nationals. “Senga we got your back,” Diaz wrote with an image of the Mets doing this year’s circle kick celebration. Covering first base on a grounder in the sixth inning, Senga got hurt when he landed awkwardly after reaching to haul in a high throw from Pete Alonso. The 32-year-old, sporting an MLB-best 1.47 ERA, will head to the injured list and will get an MRI on Friday, manager Carlos Mendoza said. Senga limited the Nationals to one hit in 5 2/3 scoreless innings before his injury, earning the win.Washington put a scare into the Mets with a three-run rally in the ninth, but Diaz sealed the win by inducing a groundout with the tying and go-ahead runners on second and third, respectively. No team can afford to lose their best pitcher, but the Mets are better equipped to deal with an injury than just about any other team in baseball. New York owns the best record in the majors (45-24) and by far the lowest team ERA in the sport (2.80). Plus, starters Frankie Montas and Sean Manaea are nearing their respective returns to the Mets’ rotation, which would help fill in the gaps if Senga is out for an extended period of time.Montas is slated to pitch his fifth rehab assignment with Triple-A Syracuse on Friday, and Mendoza said Manaea will pitch a rehab start on Sunday for one of the Mets’ minor league affiliates. And given the tone of Diaz’s post, the Mets clubhouse is keeping a positive attitude even as the organization awaits a determination on the severity of Senga’s injury....