Mets' Kodai Senga roughed up in potential last rehab start
Mets pitcher Kodai Senga responds to questions during an interview before the first game of a doubleheader against the Dodgers on May 28 at Citi Field. Credit: AP/Frank Franklin II
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.
Tim Healey is the Mets beat writer for Newsday. Born on Long Island and raised in Connecticut, Tim has previously worked for the South Florida Sun Sentinel, the Boston Globe and MLB.com. He is also the author of “Hometown Hardball,” a book about minor league baseball in the northeast.
