The New York Mets are set to get ace Kodai Senga back soon, with his rehab going according to plan.
Mike Puma of the New York Post reported that Senga will take the mound again next Tuesday, July 9 after facing 35 batters in his rehab assignment for the Brooklyn Cyclones on Wednesday:
“The Mets right-hander will pitch next week for Triple-A Syracuse — most likely on Tuesday, according to manager Carlos Mendoza — in a 50-pitch appearance,” Puma wrote.
“All the reports were positive,” Mendoza said before the Mets lost 1-0 to the Nationals on Thursday. “He did well. The velocity was there and he used all of his pitches. He is trending in the right direction.”
Mets: Kodai Senga’s stuff and mechanics are there as his rehab intensifies
Senga topped out at 97 mph on his fastball in his minor league showing and will have the chance to keep his top-of-the-line stuff where it’s at next week.
The Mets have cooled off after their scorching month of June, having gone 2-3 in their last five games. No matter, Senga’s insertion into the lineup can help New York overcome this brief dry spell and grab a strong footing on a National League Wild Card spot.
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Senga can turn the Mets’ pitching staff into a heroic story in second-half of 2024
New York owns the 10th-worst ERA (.421) and has thrown the second-most walks in the MLB in 2024 (323). Senga is more than a band-aid solution for those woes. Should he return at full strength, the Japanese star can be the driving force of the Mets’ pitching staff and get them into playoff shape quickly, fast, and in a hurry.