Kodai Chiga Shows Improvement in Bullpen Role

Kodai Chiga made a positive impression in his first outing as a reliever in the Major Leagues, demonstrating a sharper performance compared to his previous struggles as a starter. Although he gave up a home run to Kyle Schwarber during Sunday’s 5-4 defeat against the Phillies at Citi Field, he seemed to have turned a corner.

“He really stepped up today,” interim manager Andy Green mentioned after Chiga delivered a solid five-inning performance, allowing two runs on four hits, with one walk and four strikeouts.

After being removed from the rotation due to a 10.08 ERA across seven games, Chiga found himself contributing from the bullpen. The Mets needed him for the day, given that four relief pitchers had recently seen heavy action. He stepped in as the fifth pitcher without much complaint and appreciated that he had adequate time to warm up for a role he doesn’t typically play.

Against well-known hitters like Trea Turner, Schwarber, and Bryce Harper, Chiga seemed to have regained some effectiveness, notably rediscovering his forkball.

In the sixth inning, he faced some challenges, walking Alec Bohm and giving up a double to Brandon Marsh, but managed to strike out JT Realmuto and Derek Hill with his forkball, interspersed with groundouts from Bryson Stott.

With no other relief options available, Green opted to keep Chiga on the mound for the seventh inning, marking his second appearance against the tough Phillies lineup.

After the Mets initially took a 1-2 lead thanks to Schwarber, Chiga’s pitch resulted in a pivotal two-run home run hit by Schwarber, changing the game’s momentum.

Reflecting afterward, Chiga acknowledged he might have made different choices, suggesting he could have aimed his fastball outside the strike zone to improve his positioning.

“If you’re going to face one of the best hitters out there, you want to set yourself up properly,” Green stated. “That said, I don’t want to downplay his performance. He delivered five strong innings right out of the bullpen.”

The Mets are currently utilizing four starting pitchers, and with an off day on Thursday, the need for a fifth starter might be postponed. This raises the question of whether Chiga can sustain his positive trajectory on the mound.

Chiga noted that ultimately, his role hinges on his performance. “If you can’t compete and hit your spots… you don’t belong in the rotation,” he said through his interpreter. “But I also believe that if I can compete, I can earn my place in the rotation.”