PHILADELPHIA — When the Mets return to Citi Field after this weekend, Kodai Senga's rehab will move into the phase where he faces batters in live batting practice, but team officials remain cautiously optimistic the right-hander will return in some capacity this season.
But coach Carlos Mendoza said Friday there were still too many variables to start planning for Senga's return, either in the final week of the regular season or for the playoffs.
“It's hard for me to sit here and say, 'Will he be healthy again or where will we see him?'” Mendoza said before the Mets' 11-3 win over the Phillies. “We'll have to wait and see before we have these kinds of conversations.”
Senga has pitched just 5 1/3 innings for the Mets this season, missing the first four months of the season after suffering a shoulder injury early in spring training and then suffering a severe left calf injury in his season debut on July 26.
If Senga returns, his role will likely be limited since he won't develop through the normal progression of minor league rehab starts, meaning the team may use him as an opener of sorts or out of the bullpen.
“There's a lot of potential here,” Mendoza said, “We just need to wait and see how his physical is before we make a decision.”
Dedniel Nunez underwent a PRP injection for a forearm flexor tendon injury and is out for the season, Mendoza said.
The rookie relief pitcher was placed back on the disabled list on Aug. 29 after pitching just one game after missing a game with a sore forearm.
Nunez pitched in 25 games for the Mets and posted a 2.31 ERA.
“He was big for us,” Mendoza said, “and we expected him to come back.”
Paul Blackburn returned to New York with a sore back, but his return is “week by week,” according to Mendoza.
He missed last Monday's game at Toronto because of a back problem.
Tyler Megill will start Tuesday against the Nationals, with Sean Manaea set to start on Monday.
That lineup would see Manaea take on the Phillies next Saturday and then the Braves in the series finale in Atlanta the following week.
Manaea will then be given standard rest in preparation for potentially starting Game 1 of the National League Wild Card Series.
