Kodai Senga, the New York Mets' ace, has been ruled out for the remainder of the 2024 season after suffering a high calf sprain in Friday night's game against the Atlanta Braves.
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The New York Mets have received a major blow to their playoff hopes with the news that ace Kodai Senga will miss the remainder of the 2024 season due to a high calf sprain. The injury occurred in the top of the sixth inning of Friday night's game against the Atlanta Braves at Citi Field.
Mets Ace Kodai Senga Out for Season with Calf Injury
Senga was attempting to field a pop-up in the infield when he felt a sharp pain in his left calf. The 31-year-old right-hander immediately grabbed his calf and was forced to leave the game.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said after the game that Senga has been placed on the 15-day injured list and is unlikely to return this season.
Mets Ace Kodai Senga Out for Season with Calf Injury
"It's fair to say he won't be back in the regular season," Mendoza said. "It's hard to put a timetable on this, especially with a calf injury. They can be tricky. We could be looking at eight to 10 weeks before he's a big-league pitcher again."
Senga's injury is a major setback for the Mets, who have been counting on him to bolster their starting rotation. Senga had been dealing with a right posterior shoulder capsule strain, which kept him out the entire first half of the season.
Mets Ace Kodai Senga Out for Season with Calf Injury
The Mets have been one of the hottest teams in baseball since the All-Star break, going 23-8 and moving into a wild-card spot. They are currently 6.5 games behind the Atlanta Braves in the NL East.
With Senga out for the season, the Mets will have to rely on Jose Quintana, Sean Manaea, Luis Severino, and David Peterson to get the job done in the starting rotation.
The Mets could potentially add a starting pitcher before the MLB trade deadline on July 30, but it is unclear if they will be able to find a suitable replacement for Senga.
Senga's return to the Mets' rotation had been a welcome sight for fans. In his first start of the season, Senga looked sharp, touching 98 mph with his fastball and fooling Atlanta hitters with his patented forkball.
In his 5⅓ innings, Senga allowed two earned runs on two hits and one walk while striking out nine batters. The Mets went on to win the game 8-4, largely due to a seven-run third inning that included three home runs off Braves starter Charlie Morton.
While Senga's injury is a major blow, the Mets also have some concerns about their bullpen. The Mets have the highest ERA in the league since May 1.
The Mets recently acquired Ryne Stanek in a trade with the Seattle Mariners, and he was activated on Saturday. Tylor Megill was also called up from Triple-A to presumably take Senga's spot in the rotation.
For now, Mendoza will have to rely on Stanek, Megill, and the rest of the bullpen to get the job done.
Despite the loss of Senga, the Mets' playoff hopes will hinge on the continued consistency of their offense. The Mets' bats have surged during their recent win streak, and they will need to keep that up heading into October.
If the Mets can continue to score runs and get solid innings from their starting rotation and bullpen, they should be in contention for a playoff spot.
