Kodai Senga is scheduled to be activated from the injured list and start for the Mets against the Royals on Friday night in Kansas City, according to manager Carlos Mendoza in his pre-game press conference.
Senga, who hasn’t pitched in the majors since June 12, threw 68 pitches over 3.2 innings for Double-A Binghamton this past Saturday. He won’t face any significant restrictions in his return on Friday, according to Anthony DiComo. With the All-Star break approaching, it’s worth noting that the Mets could potentially realign their rotation to give Senga increased rest between starts.
Senga’s return to the rotation is one of two major boosts the Mets are expecting this week, with Sean Manaea—who hasn’t pitched at the major league level all season—set to make his final rehab appearance in Triple-A Syracuse tonight. Since Senga was sidelined, injuries have beleaguered the Mets’ once-elite starting staff, with Tylor Megill now unavailable until at least late August with an elbow sprain, Paul Blackburn out with a shoulder impingement, and Griffin Canning undergoing season-ending Achilles surgery.
Before his injury, Senga was in complete command, boasting a league-best 1.47 ERA. In his only career start against the Royals, he surrendered three runs and a career-worst eleven hits in 5.2 innings at Kauffman Stadium on August 2, 2023.
