Mets right-hander Kodai Senga has a strained hamstring and will go on the 15-day injured list. Manager Carlos Mendoza informed reporters, including Anthony DiComo of MLB.com, after today’s game. Further details about the severity of the injury and his absence won’t be known until he undergoes an MRI tomorrow. It’s also not yet clear what other moves will be made in conjunction with this IL placement.
Senga’s injury was obvious during today’s game, with video relayed by SNY. He started the contest and was pitching a gem, with no runs allowed as he pitched into the sixth inning. During that sixth frame, CJ Abrams hit a grounder between second and first, which was corralled by first baseman Pete Alonso. Senga ran to cover first and leaped to receive the throw from Alonso. While he made the catch and recorded the out, he then collapsed on the ground in obvious pain, clutching at his right leg. Senga told Alonso he felt a pull in his leg before leaping for the ball, per DiComo.
Regardless of whether the leap had anything to do with it, the larger point is that it’s a blow for the Mets. Senga has been a dominant pitcher throughout his entire big league career, with a 2.59 earned run average in 239 2/3 innings. However, injuries have played a role in the volume of his contributions. Last year, a shoulder strain and a calf strain limited him to just one regular season start last year. He did get healthy enough to pitch in the postseason, adding another five innings there.
He’s been healthy to this point in 2025, having made 13 starts with a 1.47 ERA. Now, however, he’s facing another injury absence. As mentioned, the full details of the strain and the timeline won’t be known until tomorrow.
The injury is the latest example of how anything resembling a pitching surplus is a temporary condition in the modern game. Just a few minutes before Senga collapsed on the field, Joel Sherman of The New York Post reported that the Mets were getting calls on righty Paul Blackburn due to their seeming abundance of starting pitching options.
If the Mets had any interest in trading from their rotation, that desire has presumably gone done in the wake of this injury. Without Senga, the rotation now consists of Clay Holmes, David Peterson, Tylor Megill and Griffin Canning. Blackburn has been in the mix since coming off the IL, having made one start and one long relief appearance. Presumably, Blackburn can slide into a more proper rotation role while Senga is on the shelf.
That won’t fully settle things, as both Frankie Montas and Sean Manaea are both currently on rehab assignments and could be back in the next week or two. That will give the Mets seven starters for five rotation spots. If Senga’s injury is mild and he makes a quick return, they have eight guys. Just as Senga’s injury popped up out of nowhere, other guys could drop off in the coming weeks, but it’s also possible some the club has to make some tough decisions.
Of those eight guys, Senga, Peterson and Megill are the only ones who can be optioned to the minors. Senga is too good to send down to the farm. That’s likely true of Peterson as well, who has a 2.49 ERA this year. Megill is perhaps a bit more likely to be squeezed out but even his 3.76 ERA is quite good.
Time will tell how all the pieces fit. For now, the Mets will have to proceed without their ace. They have a number of quality options to soften the blow but it’s still a notable development for the coming weeks.
Photo courtesy of Brad Penner, Imagn Images