A day after manager Carlos Mendoza warned the world that Kodai Senga’s rehabilitation from the shoulder strain he suffered in the spring had been slowed at best, there’s still not much clarity on pitcher Kodai Senga, who is expected to be the Mets’ ace this season. It wasn’t.
The Mets insist Chiga is physically fine and that the schedule change was simply due to a mechanical issue the right-hander flagged.
“He said he felt good.” [and] My arm feels good,” Mendoza said Sunday before the Mets wrapped up their series against the Braves at Citi Field. “He keeps saying he doesn’t feel his mechanics are there and he doesn’t want to push until he finds that rhythm.”
Chiga did not speak to reporters Saturday and was not in the clubhouse before Sunday’s game.
But this is a somewhat puzzling situation, considering the Mets on Friday floated the idea that Chiga’s next step would be to go from batting practice to minor league rehab games.
Mendoza said Chiga will instead have “days where he doesn’t throw and just does dry sessions” and just works on his mechanics.
“Just to make sure he can deliver again,” the manager said. “He’s a guy who knows himself better than anyone and pays close attention to his driving and mechanics.”
Mendoza also noted that Chiga took a long break before returning.
“We don’t want to put him at risk. If his arms can’t keep up or he flies open while he’s dealing with the mechanics, he’s at risk for injury and reinjury,” Mendoza said. . “I feel it. That’s what he’s going through.”
Asked if there was anything the team was looking forward to before Chiga faced batters again, Mendoza said, “Nothing like that.”
“His feedback and what he feels physically is important before we take the next step,” Mendoza said.
Chiga, 31, signed a five-year, $75 million contract a year ago and was named the Mets’ pitcher of the year. The player has the right to opt out after the 2025 season if he pitches 400 innings by the end of next year, and Chiga pitched 166¹/₃ innings in 2023.
David Peterson and Tyler Megill’s progress comes as Coach Mendoza did not rule out a May 27 return for Peterson, who will be eligible to return from the 60-day IL after offseason hip surgery. , the progress of David Peterson and Tyler Megill appears to be becoming more apparent.
He is scheduled to re-enter rehab at Double-A Binghamton on Monday or Tuesday.
“He feels really good,” Mendoza said. “We’ll have to make another decision.” [regarding his activation off the IL] It’s coming closer. ”
Peterson has rehabbed three times at Low-A St. Lucie and threw 63 pitches in his most recent start.
And Megill had another solid game Sunday against Triple-A Syracuse, pitching 5 1/3 scoreless innings and raising his pitch count to 74.
For both pitchers, Mendoza said the Mets’ determination of whether they are ready to return to the roster depends more on how they feel than how they perform during rehab.
Both players rank 25th in the majors in innings pitched as starters and 23rd in both ERA and WAR, according to FanGraphs, and will be welcome additions to the rotation entering Sunday.
