New York Mets ace pitcher Kodai Senga had been eagerly awaiting his season debut on July 26 after recovering from a shoulder issue. Although he performed impressively in that game, he was forced to exit due to a severe left calf strain, which has kept him sidelined ever since. Talk about a stroke of bad luck.
Despite missing their top pitcher, the Mets are still in the race for a postseason berth. They are just half a game behind the Atlanta Braves for the final Wild Card spot and have won their last seven games.
Getting Senga back would be a major boost to their playoff hopes, even though his expected return might be closer to late September (he’s eligible to come back on the 25th) rather than earlier in the month.
Initially, Senga hoped to return as a reliever, but a recent update has sparked excitement within the organization. According to SNY’s Andy Martino, there is a possibility he could return as a starter, adding another high-quality option for the crucial final games of the regular season:
It’s still too early to confirm this, and plans remain fluid. However, Senga impressed team officials with a strong 25-pitch bullpen session on Wednesday at Citi Field. He has made only one start this season due to a delayed debut from a shoulder injury and a calf injury in July that seemed to end his season. The Mets would prefer Senga to start, even if it’s in limited outings. Given his specialized preparation routine and Tylor Megill’s experience in relief, the team views Megill as better suited for high-leverage situations during a playoff chase. While there might not be enough time to extend Senga to a full starter’s workload by the 25th, he could potentially pitch a few innings per start. The situation is delicate, and the Mets are likely cautious about rushing him, given his previous shoulder issues.
Any return from Senga would be immensely valuable. As a rookie, he posted a 2.98 ERA over 166.1 innings with 202 strikeouts, and even in short bursts of three or four innings every five or six days, his addition would greatly enhance the pitching staff.
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