Mets ace likely done for season after just one start

The New York Mets welcomed their top starting pitcher, Kodai Senga, back to the lineup on Friday night for his first start of the season in what should have been a huge boost to a surging team that is rapidly climbing the National League standings.

His return lasted just one start, and ended with him grabbing his calf on the field.

On Saturday, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said it is "unlikely" that Senga will pitch again during the regular season due to the injury. He did leave open the possibility that Senga could be available in the playoffs if the Mets get there, but that was also not a given.

Senga had been sidelined for the entire first half of the season after being shut down in spring training due to a shoulder injury. He finally worked his way back to the big leagues for Friday's start against the Braves, and was immediately pitching like the front-line starter he was a year ago, striking out nine and allowing just two hits in 5.1 innings of work.

He was injured when trying to run off the mound to get out of the way of a pop-up on the infield. As he took his first couple of steps away from the mound he dropped to the ground and immediately started grabbing at his calf. He was able to walk off the field under his own power, but it was clear something went very wrong for him.

He was officially placed on the IL on Saturday.

Senga was one of the few bright spots for the Mets in what turned out to be a bitterly disappointing 2023 season, finishing his debut season in the states with a 2.98 ERA and 202 strikeouts in 168 innings of work. He was not only the Mets' best starting pitcher, he was one of the most effective pitchers in the league.

With the Mets on a rapid climb into the top wild-card spot in the National League in recent weeks, his return seemed like the type of thing that could put them over the top in a wide open playoff race.

The bad news is that the Mets will not have Senga for the stretch run of the season. The good news, if Mets fans want to find the silver lining, is that they have turned their season around and played their way back into contention without him so far this season.