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Kodai Senga’s return to MLB could come against a division rival.
New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza announced on Sunday that “there’s a good chance” the 31-year-old makes his 2024 season debut on Friday against the Atlanta Braves.
“Everything is good so far. … Everything is positive,” Mendoza said, per Alex Smith of SNY. “We’ve got to wait and see how today goes, and tomorrow, and hopefully he’s with us next time out. Everything is trending in the right direction.”
Senga has dealt with multiple injuries that have kept him out of the lineup throughout the 2024 season. This includes a moderate capsule strain in his throwing shoulder as well as a triceps issue.
He made his third rehab start on Saturday night for the Triple-A Syracuse Mets, but his output was lackluster. He lasted three innings, allowing eight hits and five runs while recording three walks and one strikeout on 79 pitches. Despite the struggles, he expressed confidence in his physical health.
“The biggest thing is I feel good, my body feels good,” Senga said after the game through a translator, per John Healy of SNY. “That’s really important. My forkball wasn’t really good today. I was trying out different things and they just got to me trying out different things.”
While Senga’s 2024 season has been difficult, his return to the Mets rotation could be massive if he returns to his 2023 form. He went 12-7 with a 2.98 ERA in 166.1 innings in 2023, leading the team in wins, ERA and strikeouts (202).
He was a bright spot on a Mets team that went 75-87, but the 2024 team is much closer to contention. New York is currently 50-47 and sits in third in the NL East. It currently holds the final NL Wild Card spot, and adding a dynamic arm like Senga could allow the Mets to return to the postseason.
