NEW YORK -- Kodai Senga intends to pitch a tune-up inning at Triple-A Syracuse this weekend in advance of joining the Mets for at least part of their final road trip through Atlanta and Milwaukee, the injured pitcher said on Wednesday.
¡°I¡¯ve been working my tail off and devoting all my time toward this,¡± Senga said through an interpreter. ¡°I know that if this doesn¡¯t go well, I¡¯m just going to be in the dugout rooting for my teammates, so I need to make this work.¡±
While the details remain fluid, Senga tentatively plans to pitch at some point before the Triple-A season ends on Sunday. He will be eligible to return from the injured list a few days later on Sept. 25, though a Mets official cautioned that Senga is more likely to appear later in the week.
The Mets play the Braves from Sept. 24-26 before concluding their regular-season schedule against the Brewers from Sept. 27-29. Each of those games could be crucial in the National League Wild Card race.
¡°We¡¯re a phenomenal team, and the vibes in there are amazing,¡± Senga said. ¡°I need to do whatever it takes to get back out there at 100%, because what I can¡¯t do is go back out there at less than 100% and bring the team down. I need to help the team win.¡±
Senga has made just one appearance this season, throwing 5 1/3 innings on July 26 before exiting due to a left calf strain. He¡¯s been rehabbing the injury ever since.
Before that, Senga spent the entire first half of the season working his way back from a strained posterior right shoulder capsule and resulting complications. He has been deliberate in his rehab from both injuries, insisting on multiple occasions that he won¡¯t return unless he¡¯s at full strength.
¡°The one thing I¡¯ve learned is you never know with him,¡± manager Carlos Mendoza said. ¡°There¡¯s days when he feels really good, but then there¡¯s also days where it¡¯s like, ¡®Maybe I need a day or two.¡¯ I think we¡¯ve just got to wait and listen to the player.
¡°I could see him going out there and throwing ¡ on Saturday and saying, ¡®I¡¯m ready to go for one inning.¡¯ But I could also [see him saying], ¡®I need another week.¡¯ I don¡¯t want to put pressure on that. We just need a healthy player. And whenever that is, I¡¯ll be happy to put his name in the lineup.¡±
When healthy, Senga has been a dynamic talent, throwing in the upper 90s with a near-unhittable split-fingered fastball as his primary out pitch. He used that combination to great effect last season, going 12-7 with a 2.98 ERA over 29 starts to establish himself as New York¡¯s ace. But Senga has made only one start since.
On Wednesday, Senga gauged his health at around 70-80%, but said he¡¯ll know more after letting things loose in a Minor League game.
Once Senga does return, the Mets are likely to use him as an opener ahead of one of their other starting pitchers since he won¡¯t be stretched out beyond an inning or two. But that could change if the Mets make a deep playoff run, which would afford Senga extra time to condition himself for a full starter¡¯s workload. Theoretically, he could rejoin the rotation in full by mid-October.
¡°Nothing¡¯s changed on my end,¡± Senga said. ¡°I¡¯m ready to pitch whenever. If the team wants me as an opener, as a starter, 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.¡±