The New York Mets may finally be getting a much-needed boost to their pitching rotation as Kodai Senga edges closer to making his return from injury. After being sidelined since late April with lumbar spine inflammation, the right-hander is now preparing to take an important step in his recovery process by beginning a rehab assignment with Single-A St. Lucie on Friday.
The Mets have been waiting anxiously for positive news regarding Senga, especially after a difficult start to the 2026 season both for the pitcher and the team overall. His absence left a noticeable gap in New York’s rotation, and the organization is hopeful that time away from the mound has allowed him to fully recover and reset mentally and physically.
According to reports, the Mets will closely monitor Senga’s performance during his rehab outing before deciding what comes next. The coaching staff and medical team want to ensure there are no setbacks before moving him further along in the recovery process. At this stage of the season, the team cannot afford another injury complication involving one of its key starters.
Before landing on the injured list, Senga struggled badly through his first five appearances of the season. He posted a rough 9.00 ERA while recording 23 strikeouts and issuing 13 walks. Opposing hitters consistently found success against him, and he allowed at least two earned runs in every outing. His worst performance came against the Athletics, when he surrendered seven runs in a difficult start that raised concerns throughout the organization.
While the numbers were disappointing, many around the Mets believed there may have been more going on physically than initially realized. Back injuries can significantly impact a pitcher’s mechanics, velocity, command, and overall consistency. It is possible that the lumbar spine inflammation had already begun affecting Senga during the early part of the season, contributing to his uncharacteristic struggles on the mound.
The Mets are hoping that the time off has allowed Senga to fully heal and return closer to the form fans have seen in previous seasons. Despite his rough beginning to 2026, the Japanese star has built a strong overall résumé since arriving in Major League Baseball.
Over his four seasons with New York, Senga has compiled a solid 3.39 ERA while striking out 343 batters. His ability to miss bats and generate swings and misses made him one of the more dangerous arms in the Mets’ rotation when healthy. He quickly became an important piece of the pitching staff and earned recognition as one of the better starters in the National League.
One of the biggest highlights of his MLB career came during the 2023 season when he earned All-Star honors. That year showcased exactly why the Mets invested heavily in bringing him over from Japan. His devastating splitter, paired with strong fastball command, made him extremely difficult for opposing hitters to handle.
Senga also delivered a strong campaign in 2025. Across 22 starts, he posted a 3.02 ERA while continuing to rack up strikeouts at an impressive rate. His performances gave the Mets reliability in the rotation and helped stabilize the pitching staff during critical stretches of the season. Because of that success, the organization still believes he can become a major factor once healthy again.
The timing of his return could not be more important for New York. The Mets are attempting to climb back into postseason contention after an inconsistent first portion of the season. Injuries, uneven pitching, and offensive struggles have all contributed to the team’s inability to establish sustained momentum. Getting Senga back would not only improve the rotation talent-wise but could also provide an emotional lift inside the clubhouse.
When healthy and confident, Senga gives the Mets another legitimate strikeout pitcher capable of handling pressure situations against strong lineups. His experience and ability to pitch deep into games could help relieve stress on the bullpen, which has also been heavily taxed throughout the season.
Still, the organization understands that patience remains critical. Rushing a pitcher back from a back injury can be risky, especially for someone expected to carry a significant workload later in the year. The Mets will likely evaluate not only his results during the rehab assignment but also his velocity, command, stamina, and recovery between appearances.
For Senga personally, this rehab assignment represents an opportunity to regain rhythm and confidence after a frustrating start to the season. Pitchers often need time to rebuild timing and consistency after being away from competitive action. Minor league rehab outings allow them to sharpen mechanics and gradually increase pitch counts without the pressure of major league competition.
Fans will undoubtedly be watching closely to see how he performs in his first outing. Even a short, effective appearance could be viewed as a positive sign that the veteran pitcher is moving in the right direction.
The Mets know they need more stability from their starting rotation if they hope to remain competitive in the playoff race. Injuries have forced the club to shuffle arms throughout the year, and several starters have struggled to consistently deliver quality outings. A healthy version of Senga could immediately change the outlook of the staff.
His return would also create more flexibility for the coaching staff. With another dependable starter available, the Mets could better manage workloads across the rotation and avoid overextending younger pitchers or bullpen arms. That depth becomes especially valuable as the long MLB season progresses into the summer months.
There is still work left before Senga officially rejoins the major league roster, but Friday marks an important milestone in the process. The Mets are hopeful this is the beginning of a smooth recovery path that eventually leads to him reclaiming his place in the rotation.
For now, the focus remains simple: get through the rehab assignment healthy and continue building strength. If all goes well, Senga may soon have the chance to turn around his season and provide the Mets with the boost they desperately need as they continue fighting to stay relevant in the National League playoff picture.
