New York Mets pitcher Kodai Senga suffered a strained left calf during his season debut against Atlanta, which is expected to keep him out for the remainder of the regular season. This is a major blow for the Mets, as Senga was projected to be their No. 1 starter this year.
Senga, who had been sidelined by a shoulder injury since early in spring training, was sharp in his first outing, striking out nine in 5 1/3 innings to earn the win against the Braves. However, he strained his calf while moving away from the mound to make way for a teammate to catch a popup.
The 31-year-old right-hander had an impressive season last year, going 12-7 with a 2.98 ERA in 29 starts. He was runner-up for NL Rookie of the Year and finished seventh in Cy Young Award voting. After his injury in spring training, Senga went on a rehabilitation assignment and had a few minor league starts before rejoining the Mets.
With Senga out, the Mets have decided to stick with a five-man rotation instead of switching to a six-man rotation as originally planned. This means that right-hander Tylor Megill will have another opportunity to secure a starting spot. In addition, the Mets made a bullpen move by optioning Eric Orze to Triple-A to make room for Ryne Stanek, who was acquired in a trade with the Seattle Mariners.
Despite the setback, the Mets are still holding the top National League wild card spot and hope to maintain their position as they head into the final stretch of the regular season. The team is optimistic about the return of rookie Christian Scott, who is expected to be out for two weeks due to a sprained ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow.
The loss of Senga is definitely a blow to the Mets, but they are confident in their pitching depth and remain focused on securing a playoff spot. Fans will have to wait and see how the team adjusts to Senga’s absence and continues their push towards the postseason.