Kodai Senga ’s first start of the 2024 season was cut short by injury, and the Mets announced today that the right-hander has been placed on the 15-day injured list due to a left calf strain. Righty Eric Orze was also optioned to Triple-A Syracuse, and the two roster spots will be filled by Tylor Megill (called up from Triple-A) and new arrival Ryne Stanek (acquired Friday in a trade with the Mariners). After suffering a capsule strain in his shoulder during Spring Training, Senga’s recovery was delayed by some mechanical adjustments and then a triceps injury, pushing his season debut back to last night’s game against the Braves.
Despite the long layoff, Senga was looking sharp and finished the start with two earned runs on two hits and a walk over 5 1/3 innings of work. Unfortunately, that final out of Senga’s start saw the righty fall to the ground while leaving the mound during an Austin Riley pop-up, and Senga very gingerly walked off the field after consulting with team trainers. Senga was scheduled to undergo an MRI on Saturday, and the results of that scan have now led to this immediate placement on the 15-day IL.
More details on the severity of the strain will likely be revealed later today, though from the admittedly non-scientific method of looking at the obvious pain on Senga’s face in the aftermath of the injury, one would suspect he’ll be missing longer than just 15 days. Depending on the nature of the strain, it isn’t out of the question that Senga’s season could be in jeopardy. Even if Senga is able to pitch again in 2024, the calf strain is another brutal setback in what has been a frustrating sophomore season for the righty in Major League Baseball.
The longtime NPB star came to the majors with much fanfare when he signed a five-year, $75M free agent deal with New York during the 2022-23 offseason and immediately delivered on the hype by posting a 2.98 ERA over 166 1/3 innings in 2023. Amidst an otherwise hugely disappointing season for the Mets, Senga’s quick impact at least provided some hope that the franchise might be able to turn things around in relatively short order.
Ironically, the Mets have indeed gotten on track this year, except with virtually no contributions from Senga apart from Friday’s start. The rotation has been something of a weak link in general due to injuries, though the group of Sean Manaea , Luis Severino and Jose Quintana have been solid if unspectacular. Senga’s return was supposed to add an ace alongside that trio, but New York has now been bit again by the injury bug between Senga’s calf strain and Christian Scott ’s UCL strain .
Megill or Jose Butto could get another look in the rotation with Senga out, as Adrian Houser is probably no longer an option after being designated for assignment earlier this week. With the Mets increasingly looking like legitimate contenders, the trade deadline presents an obvious route for the Amazins to bring a new starter into the fold, though naturally such deals are difficult to find. Any new pitchers will add to New York’s already immense luxury tax bill , and president of baseball operations David Stearns might not be too keen on trading significant talent from the farm system.
This article first appeared on MLB Trade Rumors and was syndicated with permission..
