Kodai Senga, after missing almost the entire regular season due to injuries, is a candidate to make the New York Mets’ roster for the National League Division Series, the New York Post and The Athletic reported Thursday night.
The Mets will open the NLDS on the road against the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday after rallying to win Game 3 of their wild-card series against the host Milwaukee Brewers 4-2 on Thursday.
Senga, 31, was an All-Star and the NL Rookie of the Year runner-up in 2023, when he went 12-7 with a 2.98 ERA in 29 starts.
This year, however, he sustained a shoulder injury in spring training, landing him on the injured list for the start of the season. Senga came back to make four minor league rehab appearances in July before rejoining the Mets for a July 26 start against the Braves.
The right-hander limited Atlanta to two runs on two hits and a walk in 5 1/3 innings, striking out nine. Senga was the winning pitcher as New York prevailed 8-4, but he sustained a calf strain in the outing and went back on the IL.
Senga made a rehab start for Triple-A Syracuse on Sept. 21 but exited after one inning due to tightness in his right triceps.
On Monday, Senga threw live batting practice, making 25 pitches. The session prompted Mets manager Carlos Mendoza to say, “We’ll see,” when asked if Senga could be an option in the postseason.
Should Senga be added to the Mets’ roster, he almost certainly would be a short-inning reliever due to his lack of work.
Rosters for the best-of-five NLDS don’t need to be announced until the morning of Game 1.
