Kodai Senga Eyes September Comeback Amid Struggles with Injuries
In the latter part of a tumultuous 2023 season, Kodai Senga is eagerly eyeing a return to the mound before the regular season concludes on September 29. The 31-year-old pitcher for the Mets has faced a cascade of injuries, limiting his appearances and essentially sidelining his promising contributions to the team's campaign.
Senga, who has only managed a single major-league appearance this season, has had to navigate a labyrinth of physical setbacks. His ordeal began with a shoulder capsule strain that kept him out of action until late July. When he finally made his much-anticipated return, it was abruptly cut short by a high-grade calf strain.
Currently, Senga estimates his recovery to be in the 70% to 80% range, a figure that brings a mix of cautious optimism and anxiety to the Mets' camp. David Stearns remarked, "If all continues to progress as it is right now, we should see him," underlining the team's guarded hope that one of their key starters will soon be back to bolster the rotation.
A Season of What Could Have Been
Last season, Senga was a revelation, boasting a 2.98 ERA across 29 starts. His exceptional performance earned him a spot in the All-Star Game and solidified his reputation with a 2.62 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Baseball Reference credited him with an estimated 4.5 Wins Above Replacement (WAR), and he finished second in Rookie of the Year Award voting and seventh in Cy Young Award voting. That success seemed to place him as a cornerstone of the Mets' pitching staff, making this year’s struggles all the more poignant.
Strain on the Mets' Rotation
The Mets have had to contend not only with Senga’s absences but also with a series of other setbacks that have considerably strained the rotation. Paul Blackburn and Christian Scott are both currently unavailable, with Scott requiring season-ending elbow surgery. These absences have forced the Mets to lean heavily on their bullpen and lesser-experienced starters, a situation far from ideal as they fight for a playoff berth.
At present, the Mets are tied with the Arizona Diamondbacks for the second wild-card spot, clinging to a narrow two-game lead over the Atlanta Braves. The upcoming three-game series against the Braves carries significant weight, as it could determine the season series tiebreaker and which team ultimately advances to the playoffs.
Counting on a Key Return
Though Senga’s comeback is not yet cast in stone, his return could provide a vital boost in the Mets’ critical stretch. The ongoing rehabilitation of their injured ace has generated a mix of hope and caution among the coaching staff and fans alike. Stearns encapsulated this sentiment aptly with his statement, projecting a sense of optimism tempered by the hard realities of professional sports injuries.
The timing of Senga’s return, should it materialize, could not be more crucial. As the Mets prepare to face their NL East rivals in a series that may define their postseason fate, every contribution will be pivotal. The potential return of a pitcher of Senga’s caliber could serve as a rallying point for a team that has been tested by adversity this season.
As the regular season edges closer to its conclusion, Senga’s progress will undoubtedly be a focal point for Mets fans and analysts. The hope is that the once-dominant pitcher can reclaim his form and help steer the team through what promises to be a thrilling and fiercely fought final stretch.