Mets' Kodai Senga Won't Make 2024 Debut Before All-Star Break amid Shoulder Injury

New York Mets starting pitcher Kodai Senga will not make his 2024 season debut until sometime after the All-Star break.

"That's fair to say," Mets manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters when asked about Senga's rehab timeline, per the Associated Press.

Senga, 31, has been sidelined with a strained posterior capsule in his right shoulder all season. However, Mendoza sounded hopeful that Senga could throw bullpens soon.

"Hopefully he can start throwing bullpens at some point at the beginning of next week," Mendoza said.

Senga made his MLB debut last year after playing 11 years professionally in Japan. He posted a 12-7 record with a 2.98 ERA and 202 strikeouts over 29 starts for the Mets last year, earning an NL All-Star appearance along the way. Senga also finished runner-up for NL Rookie of the Year.

The Mets are in London this weekend, playing a pair of games against the Philadelphia Phillies. Senga is playing long toss, per Mendoza, as he ramps up for his return.

The Mets don't get back from the All-Star break until July 19, so Senga will be out for at least six more weeks. Without him, New York's rotation has been up and down, although Luis Severino (3.25 ERA) and Sean Manaea (3.63 ERA) have done well holding down the fort in his absence.

Ultimately, Senga has been a huge loss for a team looking toward him being the squad's ace this year.

The only good news is that the National League is so bad this year that the Mets, who were 27-35 entering Saturday, were just two games back in the loss column for the final NL Wild Card spot. If the Mets can stay within striking distance until Senga returns, then it's not out of the realm of possibility that New York can make a run at the playoffs.