Mets ace Kodai Senga continues to make progress in his rehab for a strained shoulder.
The right-hander played catch at Citi Field on Monday for the second day in a row, marking the first time he’s thrown on back-to-back days since suffering the injury in late February.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza described Monday’s milestone as “a big deal.”
“Letting it loose and doing it for back-to-back days is another step that he has to clear,” Mendoza said before Monday’s game against the Detroit Tigers. “We’ll see how he responds tomorrow. I don’t anticipate it being an issue, but for him to go out there and play catch on back-to-back days is a pretty good step forward.”
Senga was diagnosed during spring training with a moderate strain of the posterior capsule in his right shoulder. He began a throwing program last week that, until Monday, saw Senga operate on an every-other-day schedule.
The Japanese-born Senga, 31, made his MLB debut last season with the Mets, pitching to a 2.98 ERA and 202 strikeouts over 166.1 innings. Senga emerged as the Mets’ No. 1 starter after the team shipped away high-priced veterans Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer in midseason trades last year.
Senga’s injury served as a significant blow to a Mets rotation otherwise occupied by Jose Quintana, who started Opening Day, as well as Luis Severino, Sean Manaea and Adrian Houser, who all joined the Mets in the offseason as low-risk acquisitions.
Tylor Megill, who won the final starting spot out of spring training in Senga’s absence, suffered his own right shoulder strain Sunday against the Brewers. He went on the 15-day injured list Monday, further testing the Mets’ pitching depth.
The Brewers swept the Mets during the season-opening three-game series at Citi Field, during which Quintana, Severino and Megill each pitched five innings or fewer.
The Mets opted against adding another established arm after Senga’s injury, despite frontline pitchers Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery being available in free agency at the time.
The Mets have not said when Senga, a 2023 All-Star, could start throwing off of a mound.
RAMIREZ SUSPENSION
Mets reliever Yohan Ramirez’s suspension for throwing behind Milwaukee’s Rhys Hoskins was reduced from three games to two following an appeal, the team announced Monday.
Ramirez began serving the short ban Monday against the Tigers.
The right-handed Ramirez was ejected Saturday after his high fastball sailed behind Hoskins, who had been part of a benches-clearing brouhaha between the Brewers and Mets during Friday’s Opening Day.
Mets second baseman Jeff McNeil took exception that day to Hoskins’ seventh-inning slide, which McNeil later ripped as “late.” McNeil shouted at Hoskins after their collision at second base, prompting both dugouts and bullpens to empty, but no punches were thrown, nor was anyone ejected.
Mendoza was suspended one game after Ramirez threw behind Hoskins. The manager served his ban Sunday.
Ramirez, who threw seven pitches Saturday before his ejection, threw 41 pitches over three innings Sunday, likely leaving him unavailable for the beginning of the Tigers series anyway.
“Look, we were short,” Mendoza said Monday of Ramirez’s extended relief appearance. “We knew going into the game that we were going to need innings, and he didn’t throw that many pitches the day before.”
MARTINEZ UPDATE
The Mets remain two or three days away from discussing JD Martinez’s next step as the newly signed slugger continues to get reps in Florida.
Martinez, 36, stayed behind in Port St. Lucie, where the Mets hold spring training, to face Mets minor leaguers after spending most of camp unsigned.
“He’s still in Port St. Lucie,” Mendoza said Monday. “He’s getting a ton of at-bats. He got like six already the other day, and every day he’s getting at-bats. In the next couple of days, we will revisit with him.”
Martinez signed a one-year, $12 million deal with the Mets last month after hitting 33 home runs during an All-Star season in 2023. His anticipated arrival took on a little extra urgency after Milwaukee held the Mets to one run in two of the season’s first three games.
Asked Monday if Martinez could make his Mets debut without playing a minor-league game, Mendoza said, “Everything’s on the table right now.”
