Mets' Kodai Senga Undergoing Testing for Possible Injury amid Arm Fatigue

New York Mets starting pitcher Kodai Senga is dealing with arm fatigue following a spring training throwing session.

"We'll see [about an MRI]," manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters on Wednesday. "We've got to get with the trainers. ... I've got to get more information. But he got on the mound yesterday and today he came in and just overall arm fatigue."

Senga, 31, was one of the few bright spots for the Mets last season after signing a five-year, $75 million contract out of Japan, finishing 12-7 with a 2.98 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 202 strikeouts in 166.1 innings (29 starts). He finished as the runner-up for NL Rookie of the Year honors.

The Mets retooled their rotation around him this winter after moving Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander ahead of last season's trade deadline, signing Luis Severino and Sean Manaea and trading for Adrian Houser. Those three are expected to join Senga and José Quintana in the rotation.

Senga is the team's ace and replacing him if he's forced to miss time is no small task, though Tylor Megill was decent last season (9-8 with a 4.58 ERA and 1.58 WHIP) and likely would be the next man up.

Other options could include Joey Lucchesi, José Butto or Max Kranick, alongside prospects like Mike Vasil, Christian Scott and Dominic Hamel.

The Mets probably would have used a sixth starter at times throughout the 2024 season anyway, as they did at times last year to keep Senga on a similar once-a-week schedule like he had in Japan. The Mets have solid enough depth in that regard, but the possibility of already dealing with an arm issue for their ace is hardly ideal.

For a team trying to rebound from a disastrous 2023 season that saw a loaded roster finish just 75-87, undergo a cost-cutting fire sale and finish fourth in the NL East, Wednesday's news will be met with plenty of anxiety.