Kodai Senga will squeeze in an appearance before the minor league season ends this weekend and then be evaluated for a potential return to the Mets.
The right-hander is scheduled to pitch 1-2 innings (max 35 pitches) Saturday for Triple-A Syracuse in his first and only rehab start as he returns from a left calf strain.
If Senga doesn’t suffer a setback during his outing, he could rejoin the Mets to pitch Friday in Milwaukee, but his role has not been determined. The most likely scenario is that Senga can act as an opener.
“This is a guy who has a special routine and is quite meticulous about everything he does – he will have a lot of say in this decision,” manager Carlos Mendoza said before The Mets ugly 12-2 loss to the Phillies on Friday.
“If he’s like an opener where he can go through his routine and give us 35-40 pitches and then we’ll visit it after that, but if he feels like he can get ready and go to the bullpen, then we’ll discuss that as well .”
Senga has pitched just once for the Mets this season — returning July 26 from shoulder and triceps strain that sidelined him since spring training — and suffered the calf injury.
“Before we put him in any major league competition, we’re going to make sure we have confidence he’s ready to go,” president of baseball operations David Stearns said. “We’ll see how it goes [Saturday] and when he gets back here … and then we’ll make a decision whether it’s next weekend in Milwaukee or later. These situations are always fluid.”
Stearns is encouraged by the strong performances the Mets have received in the minor leagues in recent weeks from Drew Gilbert and Jett Williams, who both missed large portions of the season with injuries.
“You never like to lose significant playing time, significant development time for prospects — these guys had tough injuries — but both worked hard to come back,” Stearns said. “I think that will benefit them going into the offseason.”