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New York Mets starter Kodai Senga is expected to miss the first month of the season due to a moderate posterior capsule strain in his right shoulder, according to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com.
DiComo noted that Senga could “plausibly” come back in the final few days of April, although the team will “take things slow” with the 31-year-old which could end up pushing his return to May.
The right-hander received a platelet-rich plasma injection in his right shoulder and is under orders not to throw for three weeks.
Senga is expected to begin a standard six-week spring training progression once the shutdown ends, which could result in a return in late April if he heals as expected (per DiComo).
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza initially told reporters on Wednesday that Senga was dealing with “arm fatigue” after throwing a side session. An MRI later that day revealed the right posterior capsule strain before the team shut him down from throwing.
Following the plasma injection, Mendoza was hesitant to offer a definitive timetable for Senga to return.
“You never know,” he said, via DiComo. “You’ve got to wait until — first of all, let the shot do the work, and then once he starts ramping up his throwing program, we’ll have a better idea is he bouncing back and all that. But for now, we’ve just got to let him heal.”
The team will hope that his recovery is quick, as Senga will be looking to build off a strong rookie season in New York. In 29 starts, he finished with a record of 12-7 while posting a 2.98 ERA. He struck out 202 batters in 166.1 innings of work and was named an All-Star while finishing No. 7 in National League Cy Young Award voting.
Tylor Megill, Joey Lucchesi, José Butto, and Max Kranick are all potential options to replace Senga in New York’s rotation until he’s able to return (per DiComo). Although they’re all serviceable temporary substitutions, it’ll be difficult to completely replicate his production on the mound.
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