The Mets’ sense of urgency is obviously the ground they have to recover in the second half, but also this: The trade deadline is Aug. 1, leaving team officials with 15 games to figure out a path ...

In 2023, Senga was the Mets’ best starting pitcher. He had a 2.98 ERA and 1.22 WHIP, good enough to finish second in NL Rookie of the Year voting and seventh in NL Cy Young Award balloting.

The Mets need both veterans to dominate in the second half if they’re going to make a run. Justin Verlander (left) and Max Scherzer, pictured here on May 4, have had up-and-down 2023 seasons.

The Mets were hoping for a fresh start after the All-Star break. Instead, the second half began with more of the same in a dispiriting loss.