PHILADELPHIA — Mets officials are starting to receive positive vibes about Kodai Senga’s rehabilitation.
The right-handed pitcher halted his pitching progress last week to focus on mechanics due to shoulder tightness, but President of Baseball Operations David Stearns said Thursday that Chiga is feeling better after recent bullpen sessions and is headed to the minors. He said there is a trend. League rehabilitation mission.
“I think we’ve got a good bullpen that I feel like he’s progressing a little bit,” Stearns said before the Mets beat the Phillies 6-5 in 11 innings at Citizens Bank Park. “We don’t know exactly when we’re going to take him out on a rehab assignment, but that’s the next big step here – but we’re all probably feeling better here than we did five or six days ago. I think.”
Senga said this week that he wants to focus on his mechanics before pitching in a minor league game because he believes a change in the way he pitches is at least partially what caused the shoulder tightness that sidelined him early in spring training. “I think step one is just getting him to the point where he feels comfortable mechanically and I think we’ve taken some really positive steps in that direction,” Stearns said.
Chiga will need about a month of strengthening in the minor leagues after starting his rehab assignment before joining the Mets’ rotation.
Team owner Steve Cohen told SNY he still believes in the Mets this season, a day after responding to a tweet from a fan who questioned blowing up the roster.
Cohen responded to the fan: “Going forward, there’s not much that can be done before the trade deadline.
The tweet was quickly deleted.
But Cohen told the team’s television rights holders that he is not giving up on the season.
“I believe in this team,” Cohen told the publication. “I believe in the back of the baseball card. It’s too early to speculate anything. It’s May 16th. We’re hoping to make the playoffs. I know the fan base is frustrated. But it’s still early. We still have the ability to make it to the playoffs…I have high hopes for us to make it to the playoffs.”
Brandon Nimmo was removed from the starting lineup due to abdominal pain.
Tyrone Taylor replaced Nimmo in the leadoff position, with DJ Stewart starting in left field.
Joey Lucchesi was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse following Wednesday’s start, and the Mets recalled left-handed reliever Josh Walker.
Tyler Megill’s return to the starting rotation is scheduled for Monday in Cleveland.
The right-hander made his first start of the season on March 31 before being placed on the disabled list with right shoulder tightness.
Drew Smith played catch and is feeling better after complaining of discomfort in the back of his right shoulder earlier this week, coach Carlos Mendoza said.
The right-handed pitcher will pitch out of the bullpen on Monday, but will likely need to make at least one minor league rehab appearance before activation is considered.
