Mets' Kodai Senga roughed up in potential last rehab start
MIAMI — Mets righthander Kodai Senga pitched poorly Saturday in what the team hoped would be his final minor-league rehabilitation start.
Senga gave up eight hits and five runs in three-plus innings with Triple-A Syracuse. He did just about reach the desired pitch count, totaling 79 — including 30 in the fourth frame, when he didn’t record an out (and allowed all of his five runs).
The Mets had him penciled in for 80-85 pitches.
The Mets also had planned on his being Senga’s final tuneup before joining the major-league rotation next weekend against Atlanta. It was not immediately clear whether the reality of his outing — in a context in which results were less important than how Senga felt — would alter those intentions.
Senga has been out since February with shoulder and triceps problems. In his absence, the Mets’ starting pitchers have been middling, posting a 4.24 ERA that ranks 20th in the majors.