New York Mets right-hander Kodai Senga (shoulder, triceps) will return from the 60-day injured list to make his season debut this Friday against the division-rival Atlanta Braves. Senga has been out all season after suffering a right-shoulder injury in spring training and then having a setback during his recovery with a triceps ailment. The 31-year-old Japanese hurler is finally good to go, though, and is hoping to go five innings or 85 pitches in his 2024 debut to kick off the weekend. Although the Braves are actually a solid matchup now for pitchers in fantasy, Senga will be more of a risk in his first big-league start of the season. He was the Mets' ace in his first year in MLB last year, though, and could be a difference-maker down the stretch for fantasy pitching staffs as long as he's healthy.
Kodai Senga Hoping To Go Five Innings In Season Debut
New York Mets right-hander Kodai Senga (shoulder, triceps) remains on track to make his 2024 debut on Friday against the division-rival Atlanta Braves, assuming he feels fine in the coming days after his last minor-league rehab start, according to manager Carlos Mendoza. Senga has spent the whole season on the injured list due to shoulder and triceps issues. Pitching coach Jeremy Hefner suggested Senga would be able to throw around five innings and 85 pitches in his first start for the Mets. New York is sticking with the Japanese hurler this week despite his poor performance on Saturday with Triple-A Syracuse in his final rehab start, when he allowed five runs in three-plus innings (79 pitches). Two rival evaluators said he simply appeared less engaged than usual. Senga needs to be rostered in all fantasy leagues, although he'll be pretty risky in starting lineups in his first MLB start of the year on Friday.
After his final minor-league rehab start at Triple-A Syracuse on Saturday, New York Mets right-hander Kodai Senga (shoulder, triceps) told the media, "I feel good, my body feels good, and that's really important." Senga allowed five runs on eight hits while walking three and striking out just one in three-plus innings in his final rehab start this weekend and said his forkball wasn't good and he was trying out some different things. It wasn't the greatest final rehab outing for the Japanese hurler, but the only thing that really matters for the Mets and fantasy managers is that Senga is healthy. The 31-year-old is now expected to be activated from the 60-day injured list to make his season debut against the division-rival Atlanta Braves next week. While Senga could have his innings limited somewhat in his 2024 debut, he needs to be rostered in all fantasy formats.
New York Mets right-hander Kodai Senga (shoulder, triceps) will make his final minor-league rehab start on Saturday for Triple-A Syracuse with a goal of throwing 85 pitches. After that, Senga will line up to make his 2024 debut for the Mets in the series against the Atlanta Braves, which begins next Thursday. The 31-year-old Japanese hurler has been on the 60-day injured list all year due to a shoulder injury he suffered in spring training, and then he had a setback along the way with a triceps issue. He was able to throw 4 2/3 innings and 67 pitches in his last rehab start on Sunday and will build his pitch count even further in his final minor-league tune-up this weekend. Fantasy managers that have been stashing Senga all year long will finally be able to use him next week against the light-hitting Braves.
Kodai Senga To Make Another Rehab Start This Weekend
New York Mets right-hander Kodai Senga (shoulder, triceps) is expected to make another minor-league rehab start with Triple-A Syracuse this weekend. Barring a setback, Senga's rehab start this weekend is expected to be his last before he's reinstated from the 60-day injured list to make his 2024 debut in the major leagues. The 31-year-old threw 67 pitches over 4 2/3 frames in his last rehab start for Syracuse on Sunday, which was his third total rehab outing. A strained right shoulder initially kept Senga from starting the season in New York's rotation before he suffered a setback due to a triceps injury. The Japanese hurler was the Mets' ace in 2023 with a 12-7 record, 2.98 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and impressive 29.1% strikeout rate and shouldn't be floating around any waiver wires with his 2024 debut right around the corner.
Kodai Senga Throws 2 2/3 More Scoreless Innings In Rehab Start
New York Mets right-hander Kodai Senga (shoulder, triceps) threw 2 2/3 more scoreless innings on Tuesday in his second minor-league rehab start with Triple-A Syracuse and he's now thrown 5 1/3 scoreless innings so far on his rehab assignment. However, Tuesday's outing wasn't as dominant as his first rehab start, as he walked two batters and needed 52 pitches to record eight outs. The good news is that Senga topped out at 98 mph and averaged 96 mph on his fastball while generating five swings and misses on six swings on his ghost forkball. Mets officials are still debating how many more rehab starts Senga will need, but two seems like a reasonable guess. Barring another setback, the 31-year-old Japanese hurler could rejoin the Mets' rotation later this month after missing the entire first half of the season. Senga has ace potential when healthy and needs to be rostered in all fantasy leagues.
New York Mets right-hander Kodai Senga (shoulder, triceps) will make his next minor-league rehab start with Triple-A Syracuse, probably on Tuesday, according to manager Carlos Mendoza. Senga will throw roughly 50 pitches. Things get a little tricky after that with the All-Star break coming, but the Mets want Senga to get to 75 to 80 pitches before making his 2024 debut in the big leagues. The 31-year-old Japanese hurler went 2 2/3 innings (35 pitches) for High-A Brooklyn on Wednesday in his first rehab start. If everything goes well in his next couple of rehab starts, Senga could rejoin the Mets' starting rotation around the end of July. Although he has yet to pitch this year due to shoulder and triceps injuries, Senga proved last year that he has high-end fantasy potential at the top of New York's rotation.
New York Mets starting pitcher Kodai Senga (shoulder) began a much-awaited minor-league rehab assignment on Wednesday, striking out six batters over 2 2/3 scoreless innings with High-A Brooklyn. Senga allowed just one baserunner on a fielding error, so it was effectively a perfect outing from the right-hander. It's also worth noting that Senga's fastball velocity hit 97 mph on Wednesday. He's going to need several more starts in the minors before becoming an option to rejoin New York's rotation, which should take him toward the end of July or early August, though it's not yet clear if he'll jump to a higher affiliate for his next appearance. The 31-year-old Japanese hurler was an All-Star during his first year in the majors in 2023, and he needs to be stashed in all fantasy leagues at this stage.
Kodai Senga To Make First Rehab Start On Wednesday
New York Mets right-hander Kodai Senga (shoulder, triceps) will start his minor-league rehab assignment by starting for High-A Brooklyn on Wednesday and he's expected to throw 40 pitches. Senga was diagnosed with a right-shoulder strain during spring training in February and then had his rehab paused due to a triceps injury. The 31-year-old Japanese hurler has yet to make his 2024 debut in the big leagues due to the injuries, but after a solid rookie season for the Mets in 2023, he should have been stashed in an injured-list spot in all fantasy leagues to this point. Because of the long layoff, Senga will have a rather lengthy rehab assignment and isn't going to be ready to rejoin New York's starting rotation until after the All-Star break. Senga was an All-Star last year and went 12-7 with a 2.98 ERA and 1.22 WHIP with a nice 29.1% strikeout rate in 29 starts (166 1/3 innings).
New York Mets right-hander Kodai Senga (shoulder, triceps) threw a 22-pitch live batting practice session on Tuesday in Port St. Lucie, Fla., marking the first time he's faced hitters since early May. Senga will now fly back to New York with an eye toward potentially throwing another live batting practice session by the end of this week. The 31-year-old Japanese hurler has been out all season after initially landing on the injured list coming out of spring training due to a shoulder capsule strain. He advanced to mound work in late April before being shut down with tightness and nerve inflammation in his triceps. The good news is Senga is trending in the right direction, but he's not going to be ready to make his 2024 debut for the Mets or fantasy managers until after the second half of the season. Fantasy managers must remain patient. UPDATE: Senga intends to begin a minor-league rehab assignment next week, assuming he comes out of one last live BP session on Thursday feeling strong.
