CINCINNATI -- The Mets on Friday made the dramatic move of optioning right-hander Kodai Senga , arguably their de facto ace entering Spring Training, to Triple-A Syracuse.

The assignment needed to be accepted by Senga, who has struggled mightily over his last eight starts, producing a 6.56 ERA in those games. The team is expected to recall No. 5 prospect Brandon Sproat from Syracuse to start Sunday against the Reds in his place, according to a source.

Senga was sensational in the first half of this season, going 7-3 with a 1.47 ERA through his first 13 starts, but his campaign was derailed by a right hamstring strain that he sustained during his start against the Nationals on June 12. In his nine starts since returning from that injury on July 11, Senga has been highly inconsistent

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