Mets Pitcher Senga Delays Major League Return After Triple-A Struggles

NEW YORK — New York Mets right-hander Kodai Senga has decided he is not ready to pitch at the major league level despite being eligible to return from Triple-A Syracuse on September 20. During a call with club officials on Friday, Senga cited performance issues after giving up four runs over 3⅔ innings on Thursday.

The Mets planned for Senga to rejoin the club shortly after his option to Triple-A to work on his mechanics, which was agreed upon earlier this month. However, following the disappointing outing, Senga will face hitters in a simulated game on Tuesday or Wednesday.

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza noted the team is working out where to conduct Senga’s simulated game because he cannot be with the major league team while on option. It was not the first time Senga expressed discomfort with his pitching performance; last year, health issues delayed his season debut until late July after he had a shoulder injury.

This season, Senga had a terrific start, posting a 1.47 ERA in 13 starts before suffering a hamstring strain on June 12. After missing nearly a month, he returned to pitch four scoreless innings but struggled with a 6.56 ERA in eight subsequent starts. As a result, the Mets’ standings steadily declined.

“We’re asking the same thing,” Mendoza said about Senga’s puzzling inability to regain his early-season form. “Healthwise, he’s 100 percent fine. There are no issues with him.”

With Senga’s ongoing struggles, the Mets have turned to three rookies to fill the rotation, including Andrew McLean, who debuted on August 16. McLean has excelled with a 1.19 ERA over six starts and may start in the upcoming wild-card series if the Mets qualify for postseason play.

The situation with Senga remains uncertain. Mendoza mentioned he could be considered for the Mets’ final series against the Philadelphia Phillies, but details are still unclear. Last year, the Mets adjusted their postseason roster to include Senga after a lengthy hiatus, but the future remains ambiguous this time around. “We gotta get there first,” Mendoza concluded.