Mets' Justin Hagenman to make season debut vs. hot-hitting Rays

Interim manager Andy Green is trying to figure out the last-place New York Mets after a troubling season.

For now, it seems he may have solved the closer role.

With high-leverage reliever Kodai Senga in tow, the Mets (62-77) will try to secure a series victory when they face the Tampa Bay Rays (83-55) on Wednesday night in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Tampa Bay's Freddy Peralta fired six strong innings Tuesday against his former team in the Rays' 6-2 victory, holding it hitless over the final five frames and retiring 13 straight batters.

For the Mets, reliever Devin Williams has been sidelined with a right shoulder strain and is expected to begin throwing soon, but whether he returns before the season ends is undetermined.

Senga, who has made 60 starts in his four seasons with the Mets, has stepped up and is 5-for-5 in saves in the closer role. He did not pitch on Tuesday.

"Kodai has done a great job. He has adjusted very well. It's not just in the performance that we are seeing when he goes out there. It's how he is getting ready for those performances," said David Stearns, New York's president of baseball operations. "It's not the easiest transition to make, but he shortened up his routine and got ready very fast."

After pitching crosstown for the Yankees last season, Williams called his Mets' campaign "inconsistent."

"I would like to contribute and go into the offseason on a good note and healthy," said the right-hander, who has converted 16 of 19 save chances.

Wednesday's starting pitcher, Justin Hagenman, will make his season debut and pitch for the first time against the Rays. The right-hander is 0-1 with a 4.56 ERA and a save in nine career games (one start) with the Mets, all in 2025.

Tampa Bay went 18-10 in August, matching its win total for May but needing two more games to do it, with some standout production leading the way in multiple categories.

Four Tampa Bay players are among the top 21 in total hits: Yandy Diaz leads the AL with 159, Chandler Simpson has 151, Junior Caminero totals 149 and Jonathan Aranda is at 140.

Caminero's 37 home runs match Houston's Yordan Alvarez for the most in the AL. Caminero also has 88 RBIs and Aranda 79.

Simpson is batting .310 and Diaz is at .302 for the Rays, who have won seven of their past nine games.

Infielder Jorge Mateo said Tampa Bay's offense always gives the team a chance to win.

"There are a lot of things to say about this team," Mateo said after his second career walk-off Sunday rallied the Rays to a 5-4, 11-inning win over the San Diego Padres. "They never give up and have a really good team here. ... We're going for everybody. Just be ready."

Tampa Bay's Griffin Jax (6-9, 3.63 ERA) will make his first start in a month after going on the 15-day injured list with right elbow discomfort.

The right-hander is 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA in four relief outings against the Mets.

--Field Level Media