Before the start of Thursday’s game against the Washington Nationals, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza gave updates on some of his injured players.
After pitching 2.2 innings in his first rehab start at High-A Brooklyn, allowing no hits and striking out six, Kodai Senga will “hopefully” throw a bullpen session in the next three days.
“Good. All reports are positive,” Mendoza said of Senga’s departure. “He did well, obviously the speed was there, he used all his pitches, so yeah, everything is trending in the right direction.”
Senga, who reached 98 mph on his fastball, threw 35 pitches in his start. The plan for his next appearance, which Mendoza confirmed will be at Triple-A Syracuse, is to have the right-hander throw up to 60 pitches or more. Senga’s goal is to be between 75 and 80 shots when he returns to the championships.
Mendoza also mentioned that he and the pitching coach Jeremy Hefner You have to look at the schedules to solidify a plan for your pitcher. With the All-Star breaks coming up in the minor leagues, the possibility of Senga throwing simulated games to keep him on track is in play.
About that, Harrison Bader remained out of the lineup on Thursday, although the captain said his center fielder is better. After no baseball activity on Wednesday, Bader went out and tested things out before Thursday’s game.
“I hope he’s a player for us today,” Mendoza said.
JD Martinez is also out of the lineup on Thursday, but Mendoza said it is simply an off day for the 36-year-old due to the “quick return” to the 11:05 a.m. start time.
After a sore ankle kept Martinez out of Tuesday’s game, the designated hitter returned Wednesday and is doing well, according to Mendoza.
