New York Mets starting pitcher Kodai Senga has not appeared in a single game this season due to a shoulder injury he suffered in spring training, but he seems to be making progress in his recovery and could return soon.
Senga is expected to throw a bullpen session on either Monday or Tuesday, and the Mets believe he is trending in the right direction, via Mike Puma of The New York Post.
Of course, we have heard this before.
Senga has already experienced multiple setbacks. Late last month, he was removed from a bullpen session due to triceps tightness. Then, several days later, he was shut down from throwing altogether.
The 31-year-old was supposed to make his 2024 debut in late May, but that obviously did not happen. While he appears to be taking the necessary steps to make his return to the mound, it's probably still too early to say for sure when Senga will actually be back.
New York could certainly use Senga back in the rotation, as the team ranks 21st in the majors in ERA.
The Mets also received some news on catcher Francisco Alvarez, who underwent surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left thumb earlier this season. Alvarez was supposed to return from the injured list next week, but his return will be delayed.
But rest easy, Mets fans: it isn't injury-related. He had to fly home to Venezuela for a family matter, via Anthony DiComo of MLB.com.
Can Kodai Senga save the Mets this season?
The thing is, the Mets have many more issues than just the health of Senga.
New York is 27-35 and has holes up and down the roster. Yes, the Mets are technically still firmly in the National League Wild Card hunt, but that speaks more to how thin the competition in the NL race is rather than New York actually being a legitimate contender.
Outside of Luis Severino and Sean Manaea, both of whom are likely trade candidates between now and the July 30 deadline, the Mets' starting rotation has been an absolute disaster. Their bullpen hasn't been much better, ranking 17th in ERA. Edwin Diaz—who is now on the injured list—has been a nightmare at closer, and veteran reliever Adam Ottavino has been a massive disappointment.
Not only that, but the Mets' offense has not exactly been great, either.
New York ranks 15th in batting average, 13th in OPS and 16th in runs scored this season. While that isn't terrible, it certainly isn't good enough to make up for the club's shaky pitching.
The Mets went into 2024 surely knowing that they were not serious contenders. This is a transitional year for New York, and it would not be the least bit surprising to see the club sell off numerous key pieces by the trade deadline.
Taking all of that into consideration, the Mets should absolutely not rush Senga. They aren't going anywhere this season anyway, and Senga is their best pitcher. He went 12-7 with a 2.98 ERA while registering 202 strikeouts in 166.1 innings during his big-league debut in 2023, so New York should treat him with kid gloves.
Senga isn't saving the Mets. His return would surely give them a boost, but he isn't going to suddenly vault New York into the World Series discussion. Accounting for the fact that Senga has already had a couple of setbacks, the Mets should be more focused on getting him back to 100 percent than rushing him back on to the field.
Francisco Alvarez should bolster the Mets' lineup
When Alvarez does return, he will absolutely bolster the Mets' lineup.
In 2023, Alvarez slashed .209/.284/.437 with 25 home runs and 63 RBI. Obviously, New York would like him to get on base more, but he definitely makes up for it with his power, which is rare from the catcher position.
He played played in 16 games this season before going down with the injury, slashing .236/.288/.364 with one homer and eight RBI.
The 22-year-old made his big-league debut in 2022, appearing in just five contests.
Follow Us
Subscribe
