The Kodai Senga saga could soon be coming to an end, but with only 11 games left to go this season, the Mets are still unsure.
The right-handed ace is hoping to make a one-inning start for Triple-A Syracuse this weekend. The Triple-A season ends after this weekend and the 30-year-old has made it known that he wants to throw to hitters before making a return to the major leagues. However, he also emphasized that he has to be 100% healthy and at full effectiveness before considering a return to big league action.
“Obviously, the Triple-A season ends this weekend, so I am working to get back in a game before the season ends there,” Senga said Wednesday at Citi Field. “I’m making sure I check all of the boxes and if I do, I would like to get into a game.”
Senga missed much of the season with a capsule strain in his right shoulder before returning in July and straining his left calf after 5 1/3 innings. Much of his rehab has been shrouded in secrecy, but through no fault of the Mets. Senga has been communicating with the team and following their rehab plans, but also seems to be calling some of his own shots.
“The one thing I’ve learned with Senga is that you never know,” said manager Carlos Mendoza. “There are days where he feels really good, but then there are also days where it’s like, ‘Now maybe I need a day or two.’ So I think we’ve just got to wait and listen to the player.”
While working back to game action after the shoulder injury, Senga delayed his rehab assignment and asked the team for time to work on his pitches in the bullpen. He felt as though his mechanics were not up to par and wanted to get them in a good place to avoid aggravating his shoulder.
Senga is eligible to come off the injured list Sept. 25, but he wouldn’t be able to go much deeper than 1-2 innings right away. The Mets could use him as a opener against the Atlanta Braves or the Milwaukee Brewers, and Senga said he’s willing to come out of the bullpen if needed.
“Nothing has changed,” Senga said. “On my end, I’m ready to pitch whenever. If the team wants me as an opener, as a starter, or from the bullpen — whatever they need. I know the starters on this team have done an amazing job and however the team wants me to pitch, I’m ready for it.”
But he needs to feel “100%” to be ready. As of Wednesday, he estimated he was at about 78%.
He’s confident he can figure out everything he needs to know based on one inning in a Triple-A game.
“Reflecting over myself, especially mechanically, to make sure I’m ready for game intensity in Syracuse,” he said. “And I know that game intensity in the big leagues is also different, so making sure I’m fully prepared to be back up here.”
Right-hander Paul Blackburn is also hoping to rejoin the big league team next week, and he’s also willing to pitch out of the bullpen, but the Mets seem less optimistic about his prospects than he is.
“We’ve just got to wait,” Mendoza said. “I think it’s too early.”
Blackburn had a series of about 10 PRP shots over the weekend to patch the spinal leak in his mid-back. He was able to play catch Wednesday for the first time since the Mets shut him down from baseball activities, but the Mets have not yet discussed any sort of throwing program with him.
However, with his arm still built up, he’s hoping he’ll be able to throw off of a mound within five days.
The doctors aren’t sure what led to the injury, but he compared the feeling in his back to that of a can crumpling.
“I guess it felt like someone was trying to kind of compress your spine just like a Pepsi can,” he said. “That’s kind of what it felt like any time I was essentially going to try and like, stop, something like stop walking or stop running, when I jumped and hit the ground, get pulled to the ground or things of that nature.”
LINDOR WATCH
The Mets had no update on Francisco Lindor’s back Wednesday. He received treatment and was on the field before the game stretching with trainers, but is not doing any baseball activities.
“This is continuing to be day-to-day,” Mendoza said. “We will have to put him through a series of exercises before we make a decision when he’s ready to play.”
