Kodai Senga will make a rehab start on Saturday for Triple-A Syracuse, and his return to the Mets will be next if all goes well.
Senga is set to throw 30-to-35 pitches over one or two innings on Saturday, per Mets manager Carlos Mendoza.
Mendoza noted that if Senga gets through it well, he could be activated next Friday against the Brewers in Milwaukee.
As far as Senga’s role if/when he returns, it would likely be as a starter, but he wouldn’t be able to pitch deep initially due to the fact that he won’t be stretched out.
Speaking to reporters at Citi Field on Wednesday, Senga said that he was hoping to make a one-inning appearance with Triple-A Syracuse before their season ends on Sunday.
Senga, who threw a bullpen session on Tuesday, said that the most important thing is that he feels completely healthy before trying to get back on the mound.
“What day I come off (the IL) is not up to (me),” Senga said, via a translator. “I’m just preparing myself to be out there and to be able to contribute, and I know that with the team being in a really tight spot and a good position, I need to be at 100 percent to contribute, and I don’t want to come back at anything less than 100 percent.”
“I’ve been working my tail off and devoting all my time towards this,” he later added. “I know that if this doesn’t go well, I’m just gonna be in the dugout rooting for my teammates, so I need to make this work.”
SNY’s Andy Martino has previously reported that the Mets are “increasingly optimistic” that Senga will pitch again this season.
