The next step in Kodai Senga’s shoulder rehab has been decided.
The Mets ace is set to make his third minor-league rehab start on Sunday at Triple-A Syracuse, manager Carlos Mendoza confirmed Thursday.
Senga is expected to throw 60-65 pitches and potentially go four innings against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre as he continues to work his way back from the right shoulder strain that’s kept him out since spring training. The start is set to come on four days’ rest.
The Mets previously acknowledged they were considering Sunday for Senga’s next start but wanted to see how the right-hander felt following Tuesday’s 52-pitch outing with Syracuse.
“He’s getting close, but we still have to go day by day, outing by outing, see how he’s going to respond after every time he pitches and the pitch count goes up,” Mendoza said before Thursday afternoon’s series finale against the Washington Nationals at Citi Field.
“But he’s trending in the right direction, and everything that we’re hearing from him and we’re getting from is positive, so that’s a good sign.”
The Japanese-born Senga, 31, was set to begin the season as the Mets’ top starter after going 12-7 with a 2.98 ERA and 202 strikeouts in 166.1 innings last year in his first MLB campaign.
He was shut down during spring training after being diagnosed with a moderate strain of the posterior capsule in his right shoulder, and his return has been delayed multiple times by setbacks.
Senga made his first rehab appearance on July 3 with High-A Brooklyn, then made his second start on five days’ rest. He allowed two hits and two walks but did not surrender a run in Tuesday’s outing against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, striking out three.
Throughout his rookie season, Senga primarily pitched on extra rest, a schedule that resembled what he was accustomed to over his 11 seasons in Japan’s Nippon Professional League.
On Tuesday, president of baseball operations David Stearns said the Mets plan to deploy a six-man rotation once Senga returns at some point after the All-Star break.
The four-day All-Star break is set to begin Monday. The Mets’ affiliates are also off from Monday through Thursday, making Sunday the last day Senga could pitch in a minor-league game before the break.
GARRETT MRI
The Mets were still awaiting the results of an MRI on reliever Reed Garrett’s right elbow before Thursday’s game.
Multiple doctors were reviewing Garrett and had not fully read his MRI, Mendoza said.
The Mets placed Garrett on the 15-day injured list on Wednesday, a day after the right-hander surrendered three runs in 0.2 innings and failed to finish off the ninth inning of a 7-5 win over Washington.
Garrett has been one of the Mets’ top relievers this season, pitching to a 3.64 ERA and 63 strikeouts over 42 innings.
MARTE MEDICALS
Starling Marte underwent an MRI on Wednesday that showed improvement with the deep bone bruise in his right knee, Mendoza said Thursday.
Marte is still not feeling 100%, however, putting the original target for him to return after a month in doubt.
“He’s improving, but he’s still feeling it with some of the activities he’s doing,” Mendoza said. “It’s day by day, week by week. Once we get the pain out of there, he should ramp up pretty quick.”
Marte, 35, has not played since June 22. The right fielder is hitting .278 with seven home runs this season.
GILBERT RETURNS
Thursday marked the return of one of the Mets’ top minor leaguers, as outfielder Drew Gilbert was in the lineup for the Florida Complex League Mets.
Gilbert, who began the season at Triple-A, had been out since April 6 with a right hamstring strain.
“With how much time he’s missed, it’s important for him to get on the field and get some game reps,” Mendoza said. “We know how important he is, and for his development, for him to finally get on the field, I know it’s been a long road after he went down.”
Acquired in the trade that sent Justin Verlander to Houston last summer, the 23-year-old Gilbert is the Mets’ No. 3 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline.
