Is it time to start really worrying about Kodai Senga's durability?
Also - New York and LA will play a doubleheader on Tuesday after being rained out on Memorial Day
What’s Up with the Mets? ⚾️
The Mets saw their series opener against the Dodgers at Citi Field postponed due to rain
The game will be made up as part of a single-admission doubleheader on Tuesday. Game 1 will start at 4:10 PM EDT
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said the third-base competition between Mark Vientos and Brett Baty will continue to be evaluated on a day-by-day basis (NY Post)
OF Starling Marte became the fifth active player to join the ownership / investment group of Baseball United, a new Dubai-based league (Baseball United)
Injury Updates 🏥
RHP Drew Smith (right shoulder soreness) will make two more rehab outings on Wednesday and Friday for Triple-A Syracuse. He’s on track to return from the IL on June 1 or 2
RHP Kodai Senga (shoulder strain) has yet to resume a throwing program after being shutdown due to triceps inflammation and nerve inflammation in his right elbow. The ace plans to be more deliberate with his rehab. There is no timeline for a return
Down on the Farm 🌾
Triple-A Syracuse, High-A Brooklyn and Single-A St. Lucie were all off on Monday
RHP Brandon Sproat (No. 13 prospect, Double-A): 7.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 K
C Kevin Parada (No. 9 prospect, Double-A): 2-for-4, 1 RBI
BOX SCORE
Double-A BNG
Today’s Game 🗓
Match-up: Mets (22-30) vs. Dodgers (33-22)
Where: Citi Field - Flushing, NY
Game 1
Starters: RHP Tylor Megill (0-2, 3.00 ERA) vs. RHP Tyler Glasnow (6-3, 3.09 ERA)
When: 4:10 PM EDT
Where to Watch: SNY
Game 2
Starters: LHP José Quintana (1-4, 5.13 ERA) vs. RHP Gavin Stone (4-2, 3.60 ERA)
When: TBD
Where to Watch: SNY
Is it time to start worrying about Kodai Senga’s long-term durability? ✍️
It sure feels like we’re now swimming in dangerous waters with Kodai Senga as it pertains to his health. More specifically, his long-term durability.
Out since the start of the year with shoulder soreness, Senga has yet to throw a single pitch this year.
And, based on the latest developments, we could be waiting quite some time before Senga is ready to get back on a mound.
It was announced on Monday that the ace has yet to resume a throwing program after being shut down last week due to triceps inflammation. More concerning, however, is the fact that no timeline for a return.
Speaking to reporters on Monday at Citi Field, Senga outlined his desire to be “deliberate” with his rehab going forward. He also admitted to having “a lot of regretful feelings” about having not pitched this season.
“The biggest part is that I think I understand my body well and I think things could have gone better,” Senga said. “I’m not overly surprised at where I’m at currently. I think I could have fixed some things.”
On its own, that sure comes across as a strange statement, and one that perhaps hints at some unhappiness towards the Mets over this entire process. Manager Carlos Mendoza did his best to deny that there have been any disagreements between Senga and the team about his rehab.
I don’t think there’s been any disagreement,” Mendoza said. “There’s conversations. We laid out a plan when he first went down in spring training and everybody was on board. We listen to some of his suggestions. When he started throwing again and feeling good, then it was mechanics and then triceps. Disagreement? Not really. He’s a unique case and he wants to be out there and hasn’t been able to get over the hump.”
Read into that what you will but the fact remains that Senga isn’t anywhere closer to a return. And that does raise some major red flags over both his short and long-term durability.
Since being diagnosed with a posterior capsule strain in his right shoulder during spring training, Senga has encountered a slew of various setbacks and has also battled a plethora of mechanical issues. He has skipped bullpen sessions and minor league rehab assignments, pushing a date for a potential return to action further and further down the line.
After receiving a cortisone shot for triceps inflammation on Friday, Senga appears to be no closer to throwing a major league pitch than he was back in spring training.
At this point, considering all of the setbacks and Senga’s reluctance to really push his own rehab, it seems almost certain that we won’t see the ace back on the mound until after the All-Star break. At the very least. That’s being positive, however. Given that we’ve been getting negative updates on a near weekly basis, it would be foolish not to be prepared for any further setbacks.
As a result, I think we’ve officially reached the stage where it is fair to assume that Senga may not return at all this year. Even if he does, it will take the righty a while to settle back in and become effective. And, by that point, it may not make any sense to bring Senga back at all if the Mets are completely out of it by say the end of August.
There have been too many setbacks and complications to just assume now that everything will magically turn around. Throw in Senga’s latest comments about how his rehab has gone, then I do think it is feasible that the second-year Met could end up missing the entire 2024 season.
In terms of the longer-term picture, Senga is 31-years-old and you do worry about how that shoulder is going to hold up over the long haul. Whether the Mets have mishandled the rehab process or Senga’s body just takes longer to recover remains to be seen. If it is the latter, then there should be some concern over how long it will take Senga to get over any potential issues and ailments in the future.
His body clearly isn’t recovering quickly enough from shoulder soreness, and that could only worsen with increasing age. Throw into the mix that Senga can’t seem to go a couple of weeks without experiencing further issues, then you do wonder how his body will hold up under more wear and tear over the coming years.
All in all, the Mets clearly have a Kodai Senga problem right now and it doesn’t look like it will be going away anytime soon. We’re still not any clearer on just when the ace might be able to return in 2024, if at all, and the way this entire episode has been handled just leaves you nervous for the future.
There is no doubt the Mets need Senga right now, who went 12-7 with a stellar 2.98 ERA in his rookie year, but they may need to settle for playing the long game in order to ensure that their best starting pitcher isn’t compromised further down the road.
Around the League 🚩
Controversial umpire Angel Hernandez announced his retirement from MLB, effective immediately
Kyle Stowers went 3-for-4 with four RBIs and one run scored as the Orioles beat the Red Sox, 11-3
Cubs LHP Justin Steele, despite being on the losing side, was stellar on the mound, striking out eight in seven scoreless innings against the Brewers
George Springer had two RBIs and two runs scored to help the Blue Jays beat the White Sox, 5-1
Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon had himself a day, finishing with four RBIs, one run scored, a double, a homer and a stellar play in the field in a 8-6 win over the red-hot Guardians
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani has resumed a pitching program, throwing from 60 feet, and he expects to return to the mound in 2025
This effectively removes his opt out so we have him for 3 more years at $15m a season. Thats a bargain so maybe he’s not an ace but a mid rotation pitcher. Thats still a good contract even with the injury risk.
It was a mystery injury from the beginning. All I can say is I hope the Mets have insurance on him.