MLB

Mets’ Kodai Senga shut down from throwing in latest injury setback

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Published May 24, 2024, 5:07 p.m. ET

Kodai Senga’s injury-riddled season had another setback, as the right-hander reported discomfort in his triceps again on Thursday.

So instead of throwing a bullpen session, Senga got an MRI exam which showed inflammation in the area, according to manager Carlos Mendoza.

He also received a cortisone shot.

Mets pitcher Kodai Senga will be shut down for 3-5 days before returning to play catch.
Mets pitcher Kodai Senga will be shut down for 3-5 days before returning to play catch. Robert Sabo for the NY Post

Senga will be shut down for three to five days and then have to go back to playing catch before he progresses to getting back on the mound.

But first, they have to make sure the shot takes care of the discomfort.

“The good thing is we were able to look at his shoulder and elbow to make sure we were not missing anything and it was just inflammation,’’ Mendoza said before the Mets’ 8-7 loss to the Giants on Friday night at Citi Field. “We knew from the beginning it was going to take time.”

Senga already skipped a scheduled bullpen session last weekend for the same reason.

The 31-year-old had previously been close to beginning a minor league rehab assignment before he backed off due to some mechanical issues.

After a promising rookie year with the Mets, Senga has yet to play since suffering a shoulder strain early in spring training.

Whenever Senga is healthy, he will need at least a month to build up before he would be able to get back into the Mets rotation.

While the Mets wait for Senga, there could be other changes to the rotation.

David Peterson made what might have been his final rehab start for Triple-A Syracuse on Friday, allowing seven hits and a pair of earned runs while striking out six over four innings in an 89-pitch outing.

If the left-hander doesn’t have any setbacks, Mendoza said a decision would need to be made regarding his next step.

Peterson has been out since undergoing offseason surgery to repair a torn labrum in his hip.

A potential move would be to bump Adrian Houser back to the bullpen after Houser struggled again in his most recent start.

Asked if he would consider using Houser in the bullpen again, Mendoza said, “Sure.”

Houser has an 8.55 ERA in seven mostly terrible starts this season and he has allowed just one earned run in four innings in two appearances as a reliever.